“I’m so proud of you,” she gushed. “You ought to invite her to come home with you for a visit.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, grateful she couldn’t see me. “She’s busy with that case I’ve been working.”

“Well, when you two figure out who done it, she’ll be ready for a vacation.” Aunt Dot was already party-planning in her head. I could tell. “At least ask her, all right?”

“I will,” I promised, knowing I would wiggle out of it later with a flimsy excuse.

“When should I expect you home?” The sound of a screen door slamming would have told me she had taken the call outside even if the burst of katydid song hadn’t filled the line. “There’s no rush, mind you. I’m keeping an eye on your place and keeping your plants watered. I just like to know where my girl is when she isn’t home where I can watch after her.”

Being called her girl made my chest tighten. She was more of a mother to me than my own had been in the years since Lori died. I didn’t know where Mom and Dad were, and I wasn’t going to ask. I hadn’t seen them in five years and hadn’t gotten a card from them in three. Aunt Dot blamed the postal service and us being on the road so often, but we had lived in Three Way for a whole year. I knew the truth, even if she didn’t want to accept it or for me to have to face it.

“I should probably let you go.” I eyed the clock, and my stomach gurgled. “I’m about to order a late dinner and head to bed.”

“You should have eaten hours ago,” she chastised. “Maybe you should give me the number for that friend of yours, so I can tell her to keep a closer eye on you.”

What Aunt Dot meant was she wanted Harlow’s contact information so she could keep a closer eye on me.

I crossed my fingers, glad she couldn’t see. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good girl.”

I didn’t have to fake a yawn to sell how tired I still was. “Night-night.”

“Sleep tight,” she sang. “Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

I ended the call in a much better place than when it started. I even shot off a quick text to Isaac, letting him know I had finally spoken to his mom and that I would update him with my travel itinerary once I had flight times nailed down for my trip home. I didn’t wait for a response. He wasn’t a text-you-back kind of guy.