Unfamiliar Territory

"She's in Ashbourne," Valerie said, holding onto her phone. She hadn't dared to answer the call, but she also didn't hang up. The phone continued to ring.

Declan looked at her and asked, "Why aren't you picking up?"

Valerie touched her left cheek, the one that had been slapped earlier, and then said, "I don't want her to see this, so she won't freak out."

Declan glanced at her left cheek. Although