I nodded, but I had a happy squishy feeling in my middle. I bet he did. I bet Rowan saw us and I bet he missed us and I bet he was coming straight home.

“Now up to bed with you, miss.”

I slid off Telly’s lap and almost stepped right on Chicken. He was sleeping on Telly’s feet.

“Goodnight, Telly,” I said.

He hugged me tight. “Goodnight, Bids.”

Gloria took my hand and we went upstairs to my room. I took off my dress and Gloria hung it in my closet and I tugged on my nightgown with the horse on the front. Gloria put a sheet on me because it was too hot for blankets, and she sat on my bed and smoothed my hair. “Bids? Things are going to get better around here. I’m going to be the best mom. You’ll see. The absolute best. No more being bothered by you kids. Getting upset over nothing. I’m going to remember what’s important. And me and Telly won’t fight no more. We’re closer than we’ve ever been.”

I smiled big. That happy squirmy feeling was all over me now. Any second, I knew I’d hear Telly yell out, “Heeyyy!” and Rowan would be home.

She poked some hair behind my ear. “That’s all I ever wished for in this world, you know. To have a perfect family. A perfect home.” Then she got up and flicked off my light and went out.

I wasn’t sleepy at all. I listened to Gloria and Telly talking downstairs. They were saying stuff, but I couldn’t hear what it was, and Gloria laughed, but in a nice way.

Then they were talking loud. Telly said, “I don’t know, Glow. I really don’t.” I wiggled free of the sheet and got out of bed and tiptoed over. The door was open a little bit and I crept out into the dark hallway and peeked over the railing. There was a light on by the front door. Telly sat on the bench putting on his sneakers. He was wearing a cap with a car on the front. “Where’re you going?” Gloria said.

“Home.”

“You call that place home?”

“I need to grab a proper rest.”

Gloria rubbed her lips together. Sometimes she did that when she was thinking hard. “You can manage that, can you? Getting a rest?”

“C’mon, Glow. Don’t be like that. We been through the woods three times. He’s not there. Not knowing where he’s off to is destroying me.”

“I see.”

Gloria stood under the light, and I could see her old brown hairs making a line in the yellow.

“I’ll be back,” he said. “I’m here for you, Glow. I really am. I need an hour. Two at most. It’s all a bit complicated, with things. You know?”