Deven looked to the window to watch the clouds hanging in the sky. Anything where she didn’t have to face her mother. “Why did you tell me he was dead?” she asked.

“I thought he was for the longest,” Iris admitted. “You know after Kennedy moved with him, I lost touch with both of them. Even after she returned, I only heard about him through her because it wasn’t like he and I spoke. I knew he was still in the streets, in and out of jail, and it was only a matter of time. Then he wrote me out of the blue one day. Said Kennedy had given him the address and it was like, all that love came back again. Then one visit when Kennedy came with you, we were talking about him, and she said that he wanted my number to talk on the phone and I said yes.”

Deven’s frown deepened at that, remembering one of the only times Kennedy visited their mother at the assisted living home, the hushed whispers between them when they didn’t realize she was looking. She looked again at the letter, the words intense and agonizing. You were always mine. And when I get out of here, I’m going to make that shit official. I’m so glad you agreed to it. “What did you agree to, Mommy?” she asked, cutting her eyes back up at the woman.

Iris pinched her lips together, obviously not wanting to speak the words aloud. “I . . . we . . . are going to be together when he gets out,” she said, her voice low. “Kennedy mentioned that he wants me to have my will changed to include him. And I’m going to do it.”

Deven bolted up like the sheets were on fire. No way her mother could be saying this. “Are you kidding me?” She didn’t care if she was yelling. “You’re changing your will to include Kennedy’s dad? To give him money Daddy left you? What the hell are you thinking?”

“Deven! How can you talk to me that way?”

“How can you be so damn gullible, Mama?” She was pacing so hard it was a wonder she hadn’t burned a hole in the floor. Her whole body convulsed as rage spewed like lava. “I can’t believe this shit! I will never let you do this.”

“I love him,” Iris’ voice was surprisingly calm. “I can do what I want to do. Your father left me that money to be happy and I am going to be happy. With Keith.”

The pressure in Deven’s chest felt like she was smothering, and she took a few breaths to release the tension. Either that or she would combust. When she was sure she had calmed down, Deven turned again to face Iris, seeing the woman for the first time.