tched up the gash on my forehead. I

ike a caged animal, muttering about "r

primary custody, given Richard's apparent disinterest in

k of pure, venomous glee over her

a place where Grandma Eleanor's influence couldn't easil

er, Sal's, and picked up evening shifts at

ey was tight. But

ed it with second-hand furniture she lovingly repaired

ld academic drive kicking in. I helped Mom

aded to a thin, silvery l

my class. Captain

on the state academic decathlon and

the acceptance letter, her

re my graduation, she used her meager savings to

llow, put up a sign: "Linda'

s her

fresh coffee and Mom's famous blueberry scones fil

sleek and out of place in

ing like a prize

signer labels, a bored, disdainful ex

our humble café. "Still playing pioneer woman, Aunt Linda? And E

hard. Sophia. What

, my dear, Isabella has been asking about you. She was very impressed w

cation hang in the air. Isab

, my own hard

nterested,