Contents
Chapter 38
Overview
Roxanne returns home to find Elsie guarding Persephone after confronting a late-night intruder. Grateful yet ashamed, Roxanne reveals she leaves Persephone alone while she cleans offices overnight because she cannot afford childcare. The admission reframes Roxanne’s choices and cements Elsie’s protective role as they postpone deeper discussion until morning.
Summary
Keys in the door wake Elsie, who rushes from bed as Nugget barks. Roxanne squeezes past the barricaded chair and finds Persephone awake. Persephone explains that a man came earlier and Elsie protected her, prompting Roxanne to stay by her daughter’s bedside until Persephone falls asleep.
In the kitchen, Roxanne, exhausted and emotional, thanks Elsie for protecting Persephone. She worries Elsie must think her a monster for leaving Persephone alone, but Elsie withholds judgment.
Pressed, Roxanne admits she was at work. She cleans office buildings at night and, unable to afford overnight childcare, has been putting Persephone to bed and slipping out, planning to return before morning. She acknowledges this was irresponsible.
Elsie recounts the intruder: a tall, dark-haired man she’d seen hanging around. When he knocked around eleven and Persephone opened the door half-asleep, Elsie intervened, posing as a babysitter and threatening to call police until he left.
Overwhelmed, Roxanne rests her head on the counter. They decide to sleep and discuss more in the morning. The scene closes with Elsie’s dark-humored offer to “make it painful,” underscoring her fierce protectiveness.
Who Appears
- Elsie (Mabel)Elderly neighbor who confronts the intruder, protects Persephone, and supports a remorseful Roxanne.
- RoxanneReturns late, grateful to Elsie, admits leaving Persephone alone to work night cleaning.
- PersephoneAwakened child who had opened the door to a man; reassured by Roxanne and Elsie.
- NuggetElsie’s dog; alerts the household by barking when Roxanne arrives.