Chapter 26: Chapter 27: Family Business

It wasn't until they were in the car, driving away from the home, Alice pulled her thoughts together enough to start drilling Rose for answers.

To her surprise, Rose didn't fight her this time.

"This is your family's business," Rose said. "But it's mine, too, Alice." She relaxed her grip on the steering wheel, twisting off the radio before glancing sideways to meet Alice's eyes. "You want to know who Oscar was."

Alice waited, breathless, hand inside the purse, fingers stroking the doll.

"My great uncle," Rose said. "Juliette's son. He was a strapping, handsome black man in love with a rich white girl." Alice knew her history. Sixty years ago, such a union would have been impossible. Especially in the South. "Greatmama truly believed Grace loved Oscar. So she agreed to help them. To protect them and secrete them out of town."

Escape. Safety. "What about the curse?"