“Me the problem?” She snorted. “You got real mental troubles, you know that? Everything you say is twisted.” Then she said, “It’s about time. But you better not leave them hanging. You messed around long enough.” Her words went warm and sweet. “Telly, these kids need a father. They’ve really been suffering. Especially the boy.” She puffed out air. “For a while? Of course, sweetheart. I understand what you’re saying. We all love you, Telly. We do. I’ll see you then.”

She put down the phone. Then she saw me standing in the hallway. “Maisy. Why do you got that face on?”

“What face?”

She rolled up her eyes all white and stuck out her tongue. “It’s not very becoming.”

“I don’t,” I said. I touched my cheek. “I don’t look like that.”

“You think I’m making it up?” Her eyebrows jumped up high. “Calling me a liar, are we?”

I shook my head. Fast. Fireflies zoomed around.

“You’re actually calling your mother a liar. Gloria’s a big fat liar. Bends over backwards for everyone, but she’ll screw you over. That’s what you’re saying.”

My heart started knocking on my neck, like there was a woodpecker hiding in there. Tak-tak-tak. Tears came in my eyes, but I blinked them away. “I’m sorry, Gloria.”

“Well, I don’t got time to deal with your sorrys right now. You just better look smart at dinner. Your father’ll be here.”

I nodded, but cold air ran up my insides. Telly was coming back. With his black garbage bags and his extra guns. Would that other lady start calling us all the time? Or showing up to throw rocks at our house? Would she leave love notes under the mat on our front step?

“Now get out from under my feet.” Gloria put an apron on over her head. She patted her hair. “Everything’s got to be just exactly perfect for his welcome home.”

When I went outside, Rowan was already gone. The laundry was balled up inside the basket in a big mess. I ran behind the house and around to the other side with the deck. He was there, almost to the woods. He had an armload of clothes and with his other hand he smacked a red cap against his leg and put it on his head. He went past Telly’s potato garden without no potatoes this year. Then he disappeared behind some trees.

Gloria wouldn’t like it, but I had to follow him now. Not just to know his secret, but I had to tell him Telly was coming home. Rowan would know if that was good or bad.