“Yes. At first I couldn’t think of anything except the fact that my mom was dead, but eventually I went to find him. To confront him.” And because Eden was the first person she’d talked to about it apart from Joanna, she spilled everything and Eden listened without interrupting, her eyes fixed on Ashley’s face as she relived every moment of that night and the days that followed. And when she finally stopped talking, Eden took a breath.

“You climbed into his car. You confronted him. That’s—”

“A risky thing to do?”

“I was going to say ballsy.” Eden grinned. “Seriously ballsy.”

Ashley hadn’t felt the least bit like smiling, but now she was smiling, too. “You think so?”

“Oh, yes. You stood up. You didn’t let him hide. I hope I would have had the courage to do the same. I’m just sorry it all turned out the way it did and he didn’t help you. Is it true that you’re pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“Can you feel it?” Eden gave her a curious look and then blushed. “Sorry. That was rude. It’s just that I’ve never known anyone pregnant before.”

“Not rude. And no, I can’t feel it. Not yet. The baby is another thing I have to figure out. I’m postponing the moment. I had all these plans, and now I have no plans.”

“What were you going to do?”

“I had a college place. I wanted to do computer science. I wanted to design games.” It seemed so far away now. “That was my dream, but when Mom got sick I couldn’t leave her. And now I don’t have the money, and also there’s the baby—” It felt overwhelming and she took a deep breath. “Life doesn’t turn out the way you plan it, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good, does it? It’s just a change in direction. And there’s no law that says dreams can’t change.”

Eden gave her a long look, a strange expression on her face. “I guess.”

“How about you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I want.” Eden paused. “Mom wants me to go to college, obviously.”

“Which means you’re tempted to do the opposite?” Ashley grinned and so did Eden.

“Sounds about right. And talking of my mother, we should get back or she’ll have a heart attack. Also, Bess might eat our burgers.” Eden took her arm and tugged her back toward the path.

They reached the gate.

Eden glanced across the garden to where Joanna was standing with Mel. “She’s nothing like the stories make her out to be.”