Mom shook her head. “That’s a dangerous game, Leah. Anyone could be wandering around late at night, and nobody would hear you if you needed help. Dangerous people are out there, you know.”

“I know!” I said. “That’s why I went, to get Jasper. I was scared for her.”

My mother’s brow wrinkled. She turned to Jasper. “And where does your mom think you are tonight?”

Jasper only shrugged. At the other end of the couch, with her hair wet and streaming down her back, she seemed smaller, somehow, and miles away.

“You’ll find this will go much better if you answer her,” said my dad. His voice was wound up tight, like it might explode.

“My . . .” Jasper stuttered. “My mother doesn’t care where I am.”

“Maybe it feels like that,” said my mom. “But I’m certain that’s not true.”

Jasper laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laugh. “I wish you were right, but you’re not. My mom isn’t like you. You wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s true,” I said, turning from my mom to my dad. “It’s different for Jasper. Her mom isn’t . . . around.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” said my mom, reaching into a pocket for her cell phone. “What’s her number? It’s time I talked to this woman.”

“You can’t,” said Jasper simply. She didn’t sound upset. She was just stating a fact. “Please. I won’t bother Leah anymore. I won’t ever come back here. I promise.”

“No!” I cried.

“And so then what . . . ?” said my dad. “You’ll go back to that shack? Soaking in your wet nightgown and flip-flops? Do you think we’re going to let you do that?”

Jasper shrugged.

“No, seriously,” he said. “What would you do, if you were us?”

Now all three of us were staring at Jasper. She was gazing at her feet, lost. The silence was unbearable.

At last, without lifting her head, she said, “I . . . I can’t go back. To where I was living, before.”

“Why not?” asked my mom. Her voice was soft but curious.

Jasper finally looked up at her, and her lip was trembling. “I can’t tell you that. I want to . . . but I can’t.”

When Jasper said that, it was like something shifted inside Mom. But not in a bad way. Her face crumpled, and she rose and came over to the couch. She sat between us and put an arm around Jasper. Not me, but Jasper.

“Honey,” she said, “whatever it is, I promise it’s not as bad as you think. We can help. You just need to tell us. That’s what we’re here for.”