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could come back at any moment. I really didn’t want to be here when he did.
    I left Jack’s precious yellow house untouched, rushing out the door and to the bus stop with no destination but “away.”
    * * * *
    Girls had gone in and out of the lounge while I told my story, but Mama had never looked at them. She gave me her undivided attention.
    It had been years since I’d spoken so much and for so long. The glass of water had long since been drained. My throat was sore and I was emotionally spent. Once I’d started, the words had tumbled out, building and building in a frantic crescendo in their haste to leave my body. Someone had to know what happened to me. Someone had to help me.
    Mama stayed quiet for a long time. I was scared to death that I’d driven her away with my horrors. I’d tried to censor myself, tried to hide the worst parts, but I knew she could tell everything that had happened. I couldn’t even think about those parts.
    Finally, she covered my hand with hers. That hand—dark, meaty, perfectly manicured, and utterly comforting.  It told me everything I needed to know even before Mama opened her mouth.
    “All that is over,” she said. “I’m sorry that it happened to you. No girl of mine—if anyone ever—oh, Lord help me.”
    Mama took a deep breath and composed herself, her hand not leaving mine.
    “This is your home now,” she said. “I want you to think of it like that. I’m your Mama, and these girls are your sisters. We’re going to take care of you now.”
    Tears obscured my vision. “Thank you, Mama,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
    “Tonight, I want you to rest,” she added. “First thing tomorrow, after you get a big breakfast in you, we’re going to go out and I’m going to get you a few things. Then we’ll talk about work and what you’ll be doing here.”
    “That sounds good,” I said, wiping my eyes.
    “Now, you go on upstairs and back to Cocoa’s room and bed down,” Mama said. “That’s where you’ll be staying for now on. I’ve got a nightclub to run or I’d take you myself.”
    “I remember the way,” I said.

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
    Cocoa woke me up with a steaming tray of food.
    “Mama sent it up,” she said, setting it on the table and handing me a robe. I’d gone to sleep wearing just the loaned panties and uniform blouse, not wanting to go through my roommate’s clothes.
    “Sorry I slept in your shirt,” I said, tying the robe closed and sitting at the table. “I’ll get it washed and ironed for you.”
    Cocoa smiled and shook her head. “You should’ve just gotten a T-shirt out of my drawer or something,” she said. “I’ll give you a top and some jeans to wear out shopping today.”
    She left the room and I was able to tear into the breakfast. The tray was positively loaded down with food—a pair of waffles, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, and four pieces of bacon. Breakfast hadn’t been in my vocabulary for a long time.
    Cocoa came in just as I was polishing off the final bites.
    “I just left!” she exclaimed, laughing. “What happened to all your food? Did someone come in here and steal it?”
    I giggled. “I’m so embarrassed,” I admitted, covering my eyes. “This food is amazing. I have zero restraint.”
    “Well, it did look awfully good,” Cocoa said. She sipped a mug of tea, the tag of the bag hanging down over the side.
    “How was work last night?” I asked, curious. “I think I’m going to start today. Mama said I was going to find out about everything tonight.”
    Cocoa raised an eyebrow. “Everything? I doubt that.”
    I drew my eyebrows in, confused. “She said I was going to work here.”
    My roommate’s face softened. “Of course you’re going to work here,” she soothed. “It’s just that … this place is kinda complicated. I don’t know if I can explain.”
    “Will you try?”
    Cocoa sighed and shook her head. “I’ve upset you,” she said, “and you need to be getting ready