“Not your fault.” Releasing her bracelet, Norah gripped her own forearm. “She’s the mom. You were, what? Nine?”

Molly forced the memory of that horrible night to the back of her mind. If she allowed herself to dwell on all the nightmares Jane had caused, she would get angry and bitter, and Norah would feel guilty about bringing it up. “I’m just glad your asthma’s under control now. No ER visits in six years.” Without raising her head, she lifted her hand for a high five. Norah smacked her palm lightly as they both started to smile at each other.

“Thanks, Moo. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“How did such an incredible person like you come from Mom and a guy nicknamed POS?” Molly asked. After Jane’s second husband, Victor, had died, she’d been wild with grief. Impulsively, she’d married Dwayne “POS” Possin just long enough to get pregnant before divorcing him and remarrying her first husband, Lono. Jane’s marriage to POS had been a short-lived mistake, but Molly was grateful for it. After all, Norah had been the result. “That’s a genetic miracle right there.”

“Hey!” Norah sat up straight. Even though she was obviously trying to sound indignant, a grin tugged at her lips. “She’s your mom, too. Fifty percent of your genetic material came from her.” She paused for a moment. “Though I have to admit that being half Lono is better than being half POS.”

Stifling a sudden yawn, Molly stood and reached to pull Norah to her feet. “Well, POS must’ve had some good dormant material, because you turned out pretty perfect.”

Although Norah rolled her eyes, she fought a smile, too. “Thanks, strict nun-teacher person.”

Molly poked her sister in the side, just where she knew Norah was ticklish. “Maybe not completely perfect.”

With a giggle, Norah bumped her with her painfully pointy elbow before heading up the stairs. As Molly followed, her thoughts turned back to her mom, and her smile faded. After the scene earlier, it was even more evident that they needed to have a serious conversation…one that might very well end with Molly having to kick her mother out of their house. Firming her jaw, she straightened her spine. It was past time Jane learned to stand on her own two feet and quit mooching off her kids.

As much as Molly dreaded the scene it would cause, she was going to evict her mom…for all of their sakes.

Chapter 3

At the loud pounding, Molly buried her head under her pillow and whimpered. It felt like she’d just dozed off after lying exhausted but wide awake in bed, stewing about her mom, feeling the usual medley of guilt and resentment and annoyance that encounters with Jane always inspired in her. Now, her eyelids refused to open, her brain fuzzy and heavy with the need to sleep, but whoever was knocking on the door wasn’t stopping. In fact, they were getting louder.

With a sound that was part growl and part pathetic whine, she lifted her head, prying her eyes open just enough to locate her phone where it sat on the bedside table. Even before she grabbed it, she knew it was much too early—barely dawn, judging by the dark-gray cast of the light filtering through her bedroom window.