But I’d call her landlord anyway. Just in case.

Just in case she left someone behind when she went…

“I don’t understand how that woman made this,” Maddy said, going on, waving a hand over my face. “A fully functional member of society.”

“She had a very different life than I did, Maddy. I don’t think all of it’s her fault.”

“The hell it isn’t. You’re too nice. Try being pissed off for a change.”

I sighed.

This is where we always landed with Mom. Maddy being furious on my behalf and me reminding her that Mom wasn’t all bad. Sometimes she was wonderful.

When my mother was at her best, you could meet her and walk away thinking you’d been in the presence of a Muse or an angel. This witty, enchanting woman who made you feel interesting and special.

When she was at her worst…

Anyway.

I don’t believe anyone is black or white. Amber had been a single parent at eighteen with no family, no money, no support. Maybe her childhood had been like Jenny’s in Forrest Gump, full of abuse and instability. Did she have issues? Yes. Did I believe that there were some people not meant for parenthood—also yes. But who knew what made Amber Amber? I couldn’t begin to guess the demons she fought. I just knew that she did.

When Maddy got up to put the popcorn bowl into the sink, I pulled out my phone like I expected a text from Mom to be waiting for me. There wasn’t. I saw Justin’s number instead, the last call I’d placed. I saved it in my contacts.

I did like his idea, and not just for the good luck charm thing. It would be fun to try it. He seemed nice. I probably would have swiped right and dated him if I’d met him on an app. Minnesota was a problem though. Definitely not one of the states on our list to visit.

Maddy came back and flopped onto the sofa. “So have you given the anniversary thing any thought?”

“What?”

“Janet and Beth’s thirtieth. They’re trying to get an RSVP.”

“I don’t know. I think I’m going to sit this one out.”

Maddy pressed her lips together.

“What?” I said. “It’s hard for both of us to get a week off when we’re under assignment. I’ll stay so you can go.”

“It’s not impossible. You should ask. They want you there. You’re their daughter too.”

I had to look away from her.

Maddy’s moms were my foster parents. They’d wanted to be my real parents, but it just never felt right. I had a mom. And I was fourteen when they got me. The imprinting didn’t take. That’s all I could say about it, it just didn’t take. I cared about them. I called on their birthdays and came back with Maddy for Christmas when we could get it off. They just weren’t… mine. And Maddy knew it. It bothered her. She couldn’t wrap her brain around it and I couldn’t explain it to her in any way that she found acceptable.

She sighed and stood up. “I think I’m gonna meet that IT guy from Tinder for drinks again. Want to come? I can see if he’s got a friend.”

“Nah. I want to finish my book.”

“All right. Don’t wait up. I’m probably going to his place after.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“What?” she said. “This nomad life isn’t exactly conducive to relationships and I’m getting sick of DJing my own party.”

“I’m assuming he’s got a bed frame?”

“You know it.” She started for her room.

“Maddy?”

She stopped in the doorway. “Yeah?”

“I will ask for the time off. Okay?”

Her face softened a little. “Okay.”

I would. But I secretly hoped I wouldn’t get it.

Maddy hadn’t come back last night, as promised, and I guess the date went well because he was taking her to breakfast and then some art exhibit. She wouldn’t be home until dinner. I was off and had nothing to do and nowhere to be.

I was in a robe in my room, fresh out of the shower, getting ready to paint my nails when Justin texted me a picture.

I clicked on it and burst into laughter. It was a selfie of him wearing a long red wig and crooked lipstick. The text said, “I babysat my little sister Chelsea this morning. I had to be Princess Anna. She got to be Elsa.”

Me: You look good as a redhead.

My phone rang.

I smiled and hit the speakerphone button. “Princess Anna?”

“Princess Emma,” he said back.

“Just a reminder, you can’t marry a man you just met.”

“You can if it’s true love,” he replied seriously.

I had to stifle my giggle.

“Chelsea made me stand frozen solid for fifteen minutes,” he said. “She wouldn’t let me move. It was that part from the end—I don’t remember that scene taking that long in the movie.”

“Ha.”

“That would kill me, right?” he asked. “Like if I was really frozen solid.”

I grabbed my red polish from the bathroom and shook the bottle on my way to the bed. “Maybe. We’d warm you up first to try and revive you. You’re not dead until you’re warm and dead.”

I sat down on the mattress and heard the sound of keys and the click of a bolt lock on the other end of the phone. Then excited dog noises.