"That's what I've always liked about you," Elisabeth said. "Every favor you do is out of love." She leaned back, and closed her eyes. She wanted to be far away, somewhere no one could find her. She felt her fists shaking in her worn sweat jacket pockets. She unclenched them, took a deep breath, and counted to ten. "What do you want?"

Her mother reached into her purse, and pulled out an envelope. She passed it to Elisabeth. Elisabeth opened it, and skimmed over the document ...