My mother grimaces as she takes another swig of wine. “I would have the slightest idea,” she says with forced kindness, “because after the incident this year when I didn’t hear from you and you were hurt—I didn’t know where you were till the hospital called me! I turned on the parent tracker in your phone for my own peace of mind.”

I process that for a moment, nodding and smiling, before turning to grin at George and Gill. “Wow, what a complete and utter lack of respect for my privacy. Wouldn’t you agree, Gill? George?”

“Uh.” Gill looks down at his food without comment. George has a silent conversation with Mara through the power of sight.

After a moment, Mara speaks down to her barely touched sandwich. “Siri Martine, I am not mad you’re out all day. I know you’re an adult. I’m just curious, what have you been up to?”

I take a sip of my wine. “If you must know, I joined a Twilight cult and quickly rose to the head position. We’re plotting the takedown of all other pop culture phenomena and the re-rise of our lord and savior, Edward Cullen. Maybe you’d like to come to a meeting?”

Mara’s strained smile falls away. She refills her wine glass.

“A cult?” George asks in disbelief.

“Yeah, we meet every day downtown,” I explain casually.

“And do what?” George cocks his head to the side.

“Burn Game of Thrones books.”

Mom locks eyes with me. “Stop it, Siri.”

“I’m kidding, Ma. We just worship vampires.”

There’s another extremely uncomfortable pause as George shares a look with Mara. I shrug at Gill.

Mara responds on a thirty-second delay. “It will be nice to check in with Dr. Sparrow tomorrow.”

I widen my eyes. “Yep.”

“You’re planning on going, correct?” she clarifies.

“I’ve said I was going to go multiple times now, Mother. Should I get up and do a cheer about how excited I am about the appointment?”

She meets my bluff. “You’re not usually one for cheers, but if that’ll make you happy.”

I gesture toward Gill and George. “I’m happy just eating with these two wonderful guys; that cheer would be for your enjoyment.”

She bites into her sandwich and we all fall, once again, into uncomfortable silence.

I shove my last bite of grilled cheese down and stand. “Well, as much fun as this has been, I have somewhere else to be.”

Mara’s eyes pierce mine. “Don’t you dare leave this table, Siri.”

“Sorry, Mom, cult thing, can’t get out of it.” I grab one of the spare sandwiches off the serving plate and place it in a Rubbermaid I left out on the island. “Taking this to go!” I turn to wink at her over my shoulder. “And I’ll be turning my phone off!”