“That’s all Nick. He’s the one with the style.”

“I figured it had to be, because you never cared about such things when you were younger.”

“I still don’t.”

“You should see what we go through when she has to be turned out for something formal,” Tracy said, rolling her eyes. “First we have to pry the handcuffs out of her hand and then—”

“That’s enough out of you.”

Laughing at their banter, Brenda said, “I’m so happy that you girls are close to each other. When you were fighting like tomcats growing up, people would tell me you’d get over it and be best friends someday. I had my doubts.”

“We definitely got over it,” Sam said. “I’d be lost without them.”

“As would we without you,” Tracy said.

“Although we would spend less time at the emergency room without you,” Angela said to more laughter.

“What can I say? Shit happens.”

“Shit happens to you far too often,” Tracy said.

“While we’re on the subject of shit happening,” Brenda said, “I wanted you to know...I’ve been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer.” Before Sam could react or begin to process the news, Brenda continued. “It was caught early and the prognosis is very good, but my doctor said it’s important for my daughters to understand that me having it puts you at greater risk for developing it at some point.”

“I’m...I’m sorry to hear that,” Sam said.

“I’m having a lumpectomy in two weeks, and if that goes well, I shouldn’t need more treatment. I’m very cautiously optimistic.”

“That’s good news,” Sam said. “But I’m sorry you have to go through all that.”

“I’ve made up my mind to remain positive and to be thankful for the early diagnosis and that it’s treatable.”

“We’ve talked her into having the surgery up here so we can take care of her afterward,” Tracy said. “She’ll be staying with me.”

“I’ve actually been thinking about moving back to D.C. permanently,” Brenda said, taking all three of her daughters by surprise. “My grandchildren are growing up too fast, and being so far from my family gets kind of lonely sometimes.” The man she’d left Skip for was long gone, and Sam had no idea if there was someone else in her mother’s life. Apparently not if she was lonely.

The news that her mother was moving home would’ve knocked her for a loop only a few months ago, but now... It was fine with her.

“I promise not to cramp your style too badly,” Brenda said. “It’ll be nice to have you all close by.” To Sam, she said, “I’m sure you must be thinking that I have a lot of nerve coming here after all these years to tell you bad news and that I’m coming home.”