She set it on the coffee table right in front of the birthday girl.

“Go on, open it,” Vanessa said, her voice high and bright.

“It’s from the department store downtown.

The one on Fifth Street.”

Lily sat on the rug and carefully peeled the silver tape off the edge of the gold foil.

Inside was a dark brown leather jacket with silver zippers running along the sleeves and collar.

“That cost more than three hundred dollars,” Vanessa said, turning toward me.

“I wanted her to have something of real quality for once.”