Patar came out of the house carrying a radio.“Your friend is with Agus and is safe.Agus asked me to accompany you back to the village.”
“No!”
The man frowned at her outburst and she frantically thought of an excuse.“I can’t go back there.”She stepped away from him.“Not until the all-clear.It’s too dangerous.”
“The all clear has been given.”
She backed further away.“I won’t.Ask him to bring Vance to me.I can’t go back yet.”She forced herself to take heavy, panting breaths as if she was having a panic attack, and let Fajar’s mother help her into a seat.
“It’s safe,” the man said.
Mila shook her head.“No.If Agus isn’t leaving, then it isn’t safe.He knows what’s going on.”She hoped appealing to Agus’s ego would work and wouldn’t tip him off that she was lying through her teeth.
She needed him out of town.She hadn’t even considered he might not come for her himself.
Foolish.
What could she say to get him here?She scanned the square hoping to spot Damien, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Ibu, I assure you it’s safe.”
“No.I can’t go near the water.”She hugged herself and rocked a little, not having to fake her nerves.
The man scowled and spoke into his radio.“She’s too scared to go back.”
“Bring her to me.”
She glanced around, frantic to find an excuse.“I can help here.”No, that wouldn’t work.Agus might think she was occupied and not bother coming until he was ready.“Tell him I’m ready to marry Vance, but I want to do it here.”
Patar relayed the message.
Though it was a lie, the thought of marriage made her think of her mother.“Does anyone have a phone?I want to tell my mother I’m safe.”
“Mila!”Ibu Minar waved her over.“Patar has a phone.”She waved imperiously at her son.
Mila swallowed her smile.Perhaps the woman wanted to make amends.She walked over to Ibu Minar.“I’m glad you’re all right.How’s your foot?”
“The doctor has set it.”Ibu Minar grabbed her hand.“I am so very sorry.”
Mila patted her frail skin.“It’s OK.I am safe.”
“Fetch the phone!”the woman yelled to Patar.
Patar waved his acknowledgement and said to Agus, “She wants to call her mother.”
“No!”
Mila pretended she didn’t hear Agus’s explosion.
“I’ll be there soon,” Agus said.
Elation filled her.She handed Fajar’s mother her empty bowl.“Thank you so much.”
“Thank you.You will always have a place in my home.”The woman hugged her.“You saved my family.”
Tears pricked in Mila’s eyes.“I couldn’t have left them.What is the time?”
Fajar’s mother pursed her lips.“Quarter past seven.”
