CHAPTER 41

The shrill sound of my phone ringing filled my ears as I reached the top of the stairs. I sighed, silently cursing as I fished for it in my purse, which only resulted in everything falling out of my hands and clattering to the floor. I watched with tears in my eyes as the contents of my phone rolled all the way to the bottom of the stairs.

“Could this day get any fucking worse?” I silently swore, still very conscious of the fact that Valerie was in the house and she could hear me if I said that out loud. I angrily swiped at my eyes as I went back down the stairs, picking up lip glosses and cards and a ten dollar bill as I went. My phone was still going bat shit crazy, and I wondered who it was that was calling with so much urgency. It was my best friend, Olivia.

“Olivia?”

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling.” she said, her voice a mixture of concern and annoyance.

“I was walking up the stairs… my phone fell, and I…are you okay?” I asked, deciding to leave out the insignificant det