“The office emailed last week and yesterday. I meant to call today. I should’ve called sooner.”
Both messages turned up in my spam folder. The recital notice had come from another address.
“I urged her to speak to you,” Ms. Alvarez said, “but she insisted you wouldn’t change your mind.”
“Was she struggling?” I asked.
“She was nervous about the recital, but improving quickly. She earned her place here.”
I struggled not to cry.
“I’ve seen her in the lobby a couple of times, but she hasn’t returned to class.”
I asked where Audrey had been spending those evenings.
“I don’t know. I’ve seen her in the lobby a couple of times, but she hasn’t returned to class.”
I found Audrey outside near a vending machine, still wearing her school uniform.
When she saw me, she stood so quickly her drink spilled.
“Mom? Why are you here?”
