“In some families, everyone looks alike. Like my two oldest brothers. People used to think they were twins! But sometimes family members look really different, like my mom and me, with different skin color, different hair texture, different eyes…you know? And that’s okay.”

“Mm?” Nova bounced in her seat and tap-tap-tapped the radio dial. More music, not more silly talk about families having different eyes. She couldn’t even remember Bridget’s eyes.

“Also, it’s okay to miss someone we love when they’re not with us, but it’s okay to learn to love new people too.” Joanie reached across the middle seat like she was going to hold Nova’s tapping hand, but Nova pulled it back and dug her fingers into NASA Bear’s fur so Joanie’s hand retreated to the steering wheel. “I know you miss Bridget and want her to come back, and you miss your mom and probably want her back too, but I also know that my parents adore you, and I do too, so…what if we could be your family? That’d be nice, wouldn’t it?”

This time, Nova didn’t say “Mm.” She stared at Joanie’s dark purple fingernails on the steering wheel and thought about how Bridget used to paint hers too. Neon green was her favorite. She sometimes tried to do Nova’s to match, but Nova couldn’t sit still long enough for them to dry so polish would end up on her clothes and fuzz would end up on her nails.

Joanie continued. “Bridget will always be your big sister like my big brothers will always be my big brothers, but maybe we could be sisters too. You and me. Like a forever family. You know?”

Nova didn’t know the answer to that one. She had never wanted any other sisters. Just Bridget. Bridget and Nova. Like Beezus and Ramona. But she had fun with Joanie. She wanted to stay with the Wests. She liked the idea of a forever family.

“Like I said, I’m going back to college tomorrow.” This time Joanie did reach out and touch her hand, but only for a second. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll be home again for Easter. You’ll meet my brothers then too. And their wives. And my nephews! They’re the cutest. They’ll love you! Mom says you know a lot of words, like moon and cat, so maybe we can write letters while I’m gone? And I’ll leave you a picture of me and take a picture of you with me. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Nova nodded thoughtfully. It would be nice…but what would Bridget say?