“That I don’t feel up to being in the company of her father and his new wife just yet.”

Anna snorted. “Grow up, Clare. This isn’t about you. This is about your daughter—the daughter who had to celebrate three birthdays without her mother.”

Stunned by her mother’s outburst, Clare stared at her. “If you’re trying to make me feel guilty, you’re succeeding.”

“Good. Then you’ll come?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I’ve tried to mind my own business during all of this, but I can’t sit by and let you do this to Kate. She needs you to be there tonight to show your support and to give her a proper send-off.”

“I can’t,” Clare whispered, remembering the emotional exchange with Jack earlier in the week. “I just can’t.”

Anna stood up. “Fine. You do what you have to do, but you’ll regret this, Clare. You’ll regret disappointing her.”

After her mother left the room, Clare sat back and fumed. How dare she? What does she know about it? What does anyone know about it? Clare nurtured her anger for several minutes until, all at once, the fury subsided and she was swamped with remorse. Her mother was right. She was being childish and thinking only of herself when her daughter needed her. She went into the family room to find her mother.

“The party’s at seven. We’ll leave a little before.”

“That’s fine,” Anna said.

Clare and her mother drove through the gates at Jack’s house just after seven. The girls had gone over earlier to help with party preparations. The house was alive with lights and electric candles in every window. Clare parked her car across the driveway from where a small U-Haul sat with Kate’s yellow Volkswagen Beetle attached to the back. Clare’s grip on the steering wheel tightened when she was hit by a new burst of anxiety.

“Are you all right?” Anna asked.

Clare was finding it hard to breathe. “Sure.”

“You’re doing this for Kate,” Anna reminded her. “Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, for Kate.” Clare exhaled a long deep breath. “Let’s go.”

They carried birthday gifts as they crossed the driveway to the stone stairs. Clare rang the bell and heard the chimes echo inside the big house—Jack and Andi’s house. You’re doing this for your daughter.

Kate answered the door. “Mom! You came!” She drew them into the foyer. “Hi, Gram.”

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Anna said with a hug for her granddaughter.

Kate sparkled with excitement. “Thanks. Let me take your coats.”