Chapter 31 Summary

It is August and there is still no call from Susan. She is playing a chess game, so Astrid suppresses the desire to call Susan and ask. She will use the time to secure her defenses. There's a new girl at Rena's. Her name is Tasha and she is thirteen years old. She has a just-healing scar on her upper lip and flinches if people move too fast near her. Astrid makes her lunch and takes her to school. She stays until Tasha is inside. She feels helpless to prevent Tasha's likely future.

Ingrid's letter commemorates the six years she's spent in prison. Astrid is surprised to learn that at times her mother felt excluded from her. She always seems so beautiful and confident. Her mother reminisces about the time they were in Guanajuato. Astrid, too, wishes that they had stayed in Guanajuato...