I’ve seen lots of storms build out over the Gulf of Mexico. The sky gets black, then purple. The wind blows like crazy and thunder rumbles. Then the wind stops. Everything gets still and quiet. And that’s when you know the storm’s about to unleash its fury. That’s exactly what it feels like right now.

“A real family,” Ree echoes in a low voice. She takes one step closer to Gabby. She bends down and looks right into Gabby’s eyes. “You think because Jewel doesn’t live in a fancy house, she doesn’t love Baby?”

Gabby swallows hard. “Um, well—”

“You think,” Ree continues in her storm-building voice, “you think that because she lives here in the park, Jewel doesn’t do everything she can every day to take care of Baby?”

“I only meant—”

Ree straightens up. “You see Linda and Duke over there?” she says, pointing to a woman and dog stretched out in the sun on a blanket. “And Jerry and Lucky over there?” It’s the man with the shopping cart and cat, also enjoying the sunshine. She rests her hand on the top of Ajax’s broad head. “And me and Ajax standing right here?”

Gabby nods and doesn’t say anything this time. Smart choice.

“Our animals always, and I mean always, come first. They eat first. They share our blankets when it’s cold. If they’re sick, we get them help.”

Ree’s working up a good head of steam. “And do you know why that is?”

Gabby shakes her head.

“Because we love them,” Ree practically shouts. “and they love us back no matter what. When they look at us, they don’t see some raggedy old guy pushing a shopping cart, or an ex–drug addict, or some faceless old woman.” Ree taps her chest with each word. “They see us.”

Silence. It feels like all the oxygen has been sucked out of the air.

“What’s going on here?” We all blink at the sound of Mama’s voice.

Ree glares at Mama. “These your girls?”

Without missing a beat, Mama says, “Yes, ma’am, they are.” She rests a hand lightly on my shoulder. Gabby moves closer to Mama’s side.

Mama tilts her chin up and stands as tall as she can, which isn’t saying much. “Were they bothering you?” Mama asks.

I glance over at my mother. Mama has this cute little turned-up nose that I sorely wish I had. Daddy’s nickname for Mama is “Button” because her nose is as cute as a button. But when she’s mad, those nostrils flare like a wild stallion’s.

Ree looks away. “No, they weren’t bothering me. I was just explaining to them that people who aren’t lucky enough to have a roof over their heads need their pets more than ever and do their best to take care of them.”