Her mother was not in the cafeteria nor any of the other common areas in the main compound. Summer walked with her head down and avoided making eye contact. If someone asked her why she wasn’t in the orchard with the other kids, she’d say that she was on an errand. No one would question that because everyone knew Summer was one of Taured’s favorites. Hours ago, that thought had comforted her, but now it made her feel strange. She turned right, away from her mother’s room and toward an area everyone called Music Street because of the three musicians who lived there.

Summer headed over to the room Desiree shared with Shanna and found the women sitting cross-legged on a rag rug playing Scrabble.

“You seen my mama?” Summer asked. She leaned against the doorframe as Desiree laid R-E-S-P-E-C-T on the board.

She saw the women exchange a quick glance before Shanna took her turn.

“Not since dinner when she ran out after you.”

Summer felt heat crawl up her neck. So she’d made more of a scene than she’d intended, but she couldn’t change that now.

“When are you guys leaving again?” She pulled on a corner of her hair, studying for split ends, and tried to look casual.

Again, they exchanged the sort of look that made Summer uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you go join the other kids in the orchard, Summer. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” There was no more grinning, no more playing with her split ends; she was staring at them now with her hands fisted at her sides.

“Close the door on the way out, will you?” Shanna wasn’t looking at her; she was frowning at her Scrabble board. Both women had always been warm to her, so the whole situation made Summer feel uneasy. The first bell rang for bedtime. Everyone would be heading to their rooms now, so if Summer wanted to make it back to Kids’ Camp in time for second bell, she would have to leave now. Instead of turning to the hallway that would lead her to the dorms, she cut a left and went back to her mother’s room. She’d wait there all night if she had to.