I rested my cheek against her hair. “Yes, sweetheart.”

“I came.”

Behind us, my mother shifted the shopping bags again. “Can we go now?”

I looked directly at her. She didn’t look embarrassed. She looked impatient.

Chapter 2 — Grandma Went Away

I signed the remaining paperwork, carried Lily into the parking garage, and buckled her carefully into her car seat. As I tightened the straps, she wrapped both hands around my thumb.

“Don’t go,” she whispered.