55

As he approached the place where Evangeline was sitting, she did not get up to greet him. Evie kept looking at the bottom of the newly empty glass and sucking nothing into the straw.

Samuel sat before her and sighed in relief. After having her cornered last night, he imagined that the last thing Evangeline would like would be to see him again.

"I was surprised by his call." he says, taking off his jacket and leaving it on his lap. "I thought you’d come home and we wouldn’t talk anymore.”

"That’s what I wanted to do.”

"I’m glad you didn’t.”

"Do you really think I was abused?”

"Hi?”

"You understood the question." Evangeline leaves the empty glass and looks at it. "Do you think Leah let those strange men move me?”

"No, I don’t. Leah had all the problems in the world, but she never let anyone mess with you. From the kids on the playground to anyone else. And that’s why I felt safe leaving you with her.”

"If she’s not my birth mother, why did she leave me with her? Why d