Page 85 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

“I already called.”

Everyone looked at her.

“And?”

“They said they couldn’t release that information.”

Tension filled the room. Bernice frowned.

“That doesn’t sound right.”

“It’s probably a privacy policy,” Simone said, though she didn’t sound convinced.

Camille rubbed her temples.

“I don’t want any more police cars parked outside my house. I just want things to go back to normal.”

Normal. If any of us could even remember what that felt like.

Camille glanced toward the front windows.

“I’ve been thinking.”

No one interrupted.

“We should start looking out for each other more.”

Heads nodded.

“I mean really looking out for each other.”

She stepped further into the room, and her voice grew more confident.

“We all have cameras now.”

“What if we shared footage whenever something happens?”

Simone nodded.

“That makes sense.”

“And maybe,” Camille continued, “we could start a neighborhood watch.”

Bernice smiled.

“I’d volunteer.”

“So would I,” Danielle added.

Nia agreed.

Within minutes, nearly every woman in the room offered to help. Camille let her shoulders relax, and for the first time that afternoon, the tension faded.

“Thank you, I just…” She looked around the room. “I don’t want anyone else to feel unsafe.”

I raised my hand slightly.

“I’ll volunteer too.”