“Oh, yes,” her mother said, brightening. “Did you know my daughter is studying to be a dancer at the Met?”

“Is that so?” Peri’s chin trembled, but she smiled as she ran a lock of hair around her finger, trying to get it to stay. “That’s wonderful. I always wanted to be a dancer.”

“She’s very good. Very graceful.” Her mother smiled, pride lighting her face. “So much more graceful than I am. And she’ll do it. That girl has more grit than anyone I know. I don’t know where she gets it.”

I got it from you, Peri thought, blinking fast.

“I’m so proud of her,” her mother said wistfully. “I wish I could have told her.”

“I’m sure she knows,” Peri said, finding peace in the moment because that was all she had, all any of them had. “I’m sure she knows.”