“Oh! Let me help you with that,” Melissa said, jumping to her feet.
Carol held up her hand. “No, no, I have it under control.”
“Oh, let me—”
“No,” Carol snapped. “Just…get out.”
Melissa gaped at Carol’s unexpected words. “Get out?”
“Leave. Just leave. Get out of my house.” Carol was beyond caring about her rudeness, about what people would think of her. She just wanted to be alone.
“Well, is that any way to thank your neighbor for—”
“Get out!” Carol shouted.
Melissa didn’t try to argue again. She took her purse, marching out of the house with an angry grunt. Carol knew she’d be going to Bonnie’s house, and then Lisa’s house, and Roberta’s house, bursting at the seams with indignation at the way she had been treated.
Carol just didn’t care.
She collapsed in the chair Melissa had v
