Eileen rose from her seat. Both uncertain and embarrassed, she glanced at the nurse and counselor, who were still standing by. They gave her encouraging smiles and nods while they made no expert moves to de-escalate the situation. “Mom?” Eileen asked again, without any real hope that she would get her mother back into her chair and up the aisle of gawkers without further incident.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man in a gray suit surreptitiously angle the camera in his lap in their direction. How many media people would have been invited to Clare Collins’s funeral?

“Eileen?” Two arching vertical lines formed in her mother’s forehead as she grasped Eileen’s shoulders and pulled her close with a strength Eileen wouldn’t have guessed possible. “Honey, what are you doing here?” She placed both her hands on either side of Eileen’s face, like she had done when Eileen was eleven and she wanted her full attention. “This isn’t what it seems, okay?”

Over Ella’s shoulder, the counselor moved into Eileen’s view and gave her an exaggerated nod. “Go along with it,” she mouthed.

“Okay, Mom,” Eileen said.

Ella gave her a soft smile. Her right hand pushed Eileen’s hair back as she brought her lips close to her ear. “Your sister,” she whispered. “She’s okay, you hear me. These people don’t seem to know that.” She shook her head once. “But that doesn’t matter. I was there; I know. I don’t want you to worry. I took care of it.” She pulled back until she could again look directly into Eileen’s eyes. “It was a horrible accident,” she whispered. “But we’re family, and we’re all we have. Do you understand, Eileen? They will come after Clare, but she still has her whole life ahead of her. We need to protect your sister now.”

Eileen’s mouth felt dry. Her mother was talking again about Clare’s car accident—but also something else. She glanced again over Ella’s shoulder, and the counselor gave her a thumbs-up and then made a single rolling hand motion. Keep it going.

Eileen took a breath and swallowed. “Mom? Can we go now?”

Ella placed both her hands on Eileen’s face again. “First, I need you to promise to help me.”

“Help you what?” she asked.

“Keep this one secret.” Ella closed her eyes, as if she were sorry to have to do this. “I know it might feel wrong. But I need you to trust me right now. I know what’s best. Can you do that for me? For your sister?”

With her face still between her mother’s hands, Eileen nodded.

“Good girl,” her mom whispered, kissed Eileen’s cheek, and then released her.