Chapter Sixteen
“Mom was really worried,” Mari said the moment I opened the door to our apartment. She was waiting in the front room, our coats and hats by her feet, my bowl of morning sludge in her hand.
“I’m surprised she noticed I was gone.” I locked the door behind me before taking off my bag.
“She was going to stay and see if she needed to walk me to the factory, but I promised her you’d come to take me. You always come back for me.” She handed me my cold bowl.
“You’re right, I do.” I choked down a few bites of the goop before grabbing Mari’s coat from the floor.
“You were almost late.”
“I was working on something with Jaime. I got too tired to walk home.” I fastened the front of her coat.
“Did Jaime cut your neck?” Mari tipped her chin up so I could tie her hat on.
“No, but h
