A text from Sally came through when Kira walked up the back porch. The screen door snapped behind her as she paused to read it.

Sorry, don’t remember this dude at all. You sure he graduated same year? Stay away from him at the reunion, he looks like trouble. Wish we could go together! XOXO

Gosh, she missed Sally. The last two years had been hard enough without her long-time friend to share the sorrows and fears of Dad’s accident and the ensuing surgeries and health scares. Although Sally had called every day while Dad had been in a coma that first month.

At first, they didn’t know if he’d live or die.

Multiple fractures and lacerations. A brain hemorrhage. But worst of all, came the news that his spine had been severed and Dad was a paraplegic for the rest of his life.

Leaning against the back door, Kira took a moment to get her emotions to settle down. She brushed at her eyes and poured a glass of ice water to rinse the dust out of her throat. “Hey, Mom, can I show you something in here?” she finally called out, remaining where she was to force her mother to come to her.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Mom’s eyes were bright with false cheerfulness when she stopped in the doorway. As though she suspected that her daughter wanted to have a confidential talk and would rather go hide in a closet. “Can I make you some lunch now?”

“Nope, it’s only been an hour since breakfast.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re a busy girl and have lots to do before you have to go to work.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Mom?”

“You look so thin these days. I hope you’re eating something besides Diet Coke and Doritos.”

Well, at least her mother remembered her favorite snack food.

Kira took her mother’s hand and led her into the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. Dad had a John Wayne western playing on the television, the volume turned up loud. She suspected he was beginning to lose his hearing. Probably needed his ears checked now.

Her mother always wanted Kira to go to the doctor with them so she could have help folding the wheelchair into the trunk of the car, help Dad in and out of the front seat, using the special belt from the hospital to steady and secure him. At least Dad still had most of his upper body strength which helped with getting in and out of the car or his bed in the morning.

Mom busied herself rearranging knickknacks on the dresser. Moving Dad’s spare change, she stacked the quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies in tall rows. She straightened her sock drawer. Stuck a bobby pin in her hair to get it out of her eyes. Cleaned a hair brush, all of her movements quick as a sparrow as if flitting from a tree to a rooftop and back again.

“Mom, please sit down.”

“I have so much to do.”

“No, you don’t. You’re just fussing and avoiding me.”

Her mother’s eyes widened in horror. “I would never avoid you.”

“I found my rent check from last month in your stuff. But where’s the other check? I had two month’s rent to be mailed. One was a little late and the other was a little early because I’d worked overtime and wanted to make sure I didn’t get late fees twice in a row. That check is missing.”

“Missing?” Her mother swallowed hard. “I’m sure it’s just misplaced. Once you explain to your landlord—”

“It’s going to take some sweet talking to shred that eviction notice.”

Her mother gave her a small pat on the shoulder and began cleaning the bathroom, talking through the door in a louder voice. “It will all work out.”

“Mom.”

Silence. The sink ran and Kira could see her mother change out the TP roll and root around for the cleanser and wet wipes.

“Mother,” she said again.

“You wanted to talk some more?”

Kira got up and firmly set the cleaning supplies down. “I think you took the check, Mom. But why? Are things so bad?”

Her mother turned away, but not before Kira could see her eyes filling with tears.

“What did you use it for, and why didn’t you just talk to me?” Somehow, her mother had doctored the check and was able to deposit it, or cash it. Which was extremely disconcerting that her mother could be so devious.

“I’m sorry, honey. I haven’t had a paycheck for two months myself and your father’s medicine is so expensive. I was waiting for the reimbursement from insurance. The paperwork is endless. So overwhelming, you have no idea. It takes me half of every day. And I don’t understand most of it.”

Kira watched her mother throw up her hands, as though already defeated. “Even bankruptcy costs. Everything—it’s just—too much.”

“I think you need to get a check-up, Mom. And you need some help here.”

Her mother gave her an offended look. “I don’t need any help. I’m perfectly capable.”

“I know you are. Very capable,” Kira assured her.

Her mother pressed her lips together. “Don’t patronize me.”

“Maybe you just need some hormone pills or something. You’ve probably neglected your own health taking care of Dad the past two years. It’s completely understandable.”

Her mother suddenly dropped to the bed, her face in her hands. “I’m a terrible wife. There are days I just want to run away.”

Kira sat down beside her and put an arm around her shoulder. “I know you love Dad. Nobody doubts that for a minute. You have a lot you’re trying to take care of but right now we need to take care of you. I’m scheduling you for a full check-up with your primary care doctor. And I’m going with you.”

“You don’t have time. You already do too much yourself. You’ve given up your schooling and your own life.”

“I want you to be healthy, Mom. Dad needs you to be healthy. I’ll get it scheduled and go with you. We’ll have lunch afterward, it’ll be fun.”

“We haven’t been out just the two of us for a long time . . .” her mother’s voice trailed away. She reached for a tissue from the dresser and blew her nose.

“Maybe we can go shopping for a decent dress for my high school reunion, too.”

Her mother’s expression perked up. A tremulous smile crossed her lips. “Going to the mall for a new party dress would be heavenly. Grocery shopping is just drudgery. Pinching pennies, cutting coupons.”

“Why do you think I drink Diet Coke and chips all the time?” Kira laughed. “Well, a frozen bagel or pizza once in a while. At least I get one good meal a day at Rossi’s on my break.”

“Before I forget again, here’s your reunion announcement. See, I didn’t even open it. I assume that’s it.”

Kira almost laughed. She raised her face to look into her mother’s worried face. With a sly grin, she said, “It’s a pretty safe bet this is it. The envelope is stamped with Southfield High School Reunion on the outside.”

Her mother let out a small laugh.

“It’s going to be fine, Mom. Hang in there. Let Dad take care of the household bills and finances. He’s perfectly capable of filling out paperwork.”

Since it was Saturday, Kira had to leave a voicemail to schedule a doctor appointment for her mother, then she penciled in a shopping date on her mother’s calendar that hung next to the sink.

When she hugged her father goodbye, he whispered, “We’re okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to worry about us.”

Kira gazed into his watery gray eyes. “At the moment, it’s not you I’m worried about.”

He gave a knowing nod. “I’m glad you’re taking her to the doctor. She won’t listen to me.”

So Dad wasn’t completely clueless. After waving goodbye, Kira headed out to return home to change for work—by way of the landlord’s office first. She didn’t want to see her possessions thrown out into the street.

But she was more worried about her parents. Without her mother’s part-time job, her parent’s future had become even more precarious. But Mom didn’t seem capable of working any longer. The early signs of dementia terrified her. “Please, God, no. Please. How much more can Mom and Dad take?”

She climbed into her car and turned the key, the ignition coming to life. She pounded on the steering wheel in frustration. “And what am I doing going to the high school reunion alone? Why did I agree to go?”

That was a useless question. Curiosity, that’s why.

Was Caleb Davenport a Denver native—or a transplant in on a gag with Troy and his friends when they saw her at the restaurant last night?

While she drove back to the freeway, the man’s face rose in her mind and Kira found herself swerving just a little up the on-ramp. All evening, Caleb had practically willed her to look at him with a strange magnetic pull of emotion and attraction.

The feeling he evoked made her want to float five feet in the air.

The next minute, a flare of anger welled up her throat. If she was being played for a practical joke, she’d personally take a hit out on Troy Thurlow herself.