I save a table as Paula gets our drinks. I look around at all the people milling about. I’m the only one wearing shorts. I guess temperatures in the upper seventies aren’t hot for people who live here. I, on the other hand, have to wipe sweat off my forehead. And if I’m being honest, I keep having to lift my arms to give my armpits some air.

Paula comes out with our two iced drinks and sits down.

“Thanks for the coffee. And phone. And clothes,” I say, rattling off all she’s bought me in the past two hours. “It’s really nice of you.”

Paula pushes up her ginormous sunglasses. Now I can see her eyes, my eyes. “I’m thrilled to be able to do it. I’m so happy you’re here.” Paula gives me a warm smile as she reaches across to hold my hand.

It’s the first time we’ve been alone, just the two of us, since … well, for as long as I can honestly remember.

Paula looks around before leaning in. “How are you finding everything? Truly?”

Does she really mean “truly”? Does she want to know the truth? That I feel like I’m living my life in a fog. Everything is hazy. It feels surreal. That I wish I were back home. That she’s really nice and all, but this isn’t my life.

Instead, I go for a version of the truth. “It’s different.”

“I know.” She leans back in her chair. “It’s different for me, too.”

Of course it is. How can it not be for her? She now has two daughters.

Paula continues, “It’s going to be an adjustment for us all, but a wonderful adjustment. Just give us some time to get into a flow. You’ll soon understand the beauty of living in Florida. You were born here, after all.”

I look around at the palm trees, sun, and fountain that isn’t frozen over in December. It’s all so foreign. Yeah, I’m a native Floridian, but I’ve always had the kind of skin that burned in the sun. I could never get a tan like Dad. So I must get that from Paula. She’s sitting under an umbrella and wearing long sleeves.

You are a part of her, I remind myself.

“Can I ask you something?”

She smiles at me. “Of course.”

“What happened?”

“With what, dear?” She looks back at me, and I can tell she has no idea what I’m really asking.

“Between you and Dad. What happened?”