After Rose’s murder, caution is high amongst the girls, dreading the killer’s return, fearing they might be the next victim behind closed doors with a stranger. But as usual, business goes on, not a day to mourn Rose or close doors to prevent another murder.
Tonight, after dinner, Mae pulls me from my room upstairs to her large boudoir and dresses me in a stunning ivory dress with layered fringes. “Bel fanm, beautiful girl. It’s time you stop hiding in your room at night. You’re young, have some fun,” Mae says as she applies scarlet rouge to my cheeks and lips and undoes my hair, freeing wild curls about my face and shoulder. I wear it back in a ribbon, never down, only at bedtime because it reminds me of Manman"s hair.
I don’t object when she leads me toward the stairs where the girls l
