In the final paragraph, Annabelle pushes back on the reassurance.
Which, I feared, might itself be too much. Toby had been a wanderer. I expected he might right now be thinking about leaving our hills for somewhere new.
First she rejects her mother’s reassurance. Then she makes an observation about her friend (he’s a wanderer) that explains why she is so worried (he would rather leave than get in trouble).
I wasn’t so sure. Zhang was proud. To have been tricked by Luo on something so important, it would make him so ashamed I could see him closing shop for good.
I wanted to be certain like Lano. Kezia was stubborn. Above all else, Queenie valued obedience and any challenge to her authority never went unchecked for long.
