I feel a prickle of guilt. I always thought Rick was mean, not to let Baby and Jewel come in to eat. “That’s really nice,” I say.

He shrugs. “I wish I had more.” Then he smiles and says, “But the volunteers are going to take up a collection. I should have more for you soon.”

“Soon like tomorrow soon?” I ask.

Mama gives me a look and a little shake of her head.

Rick nods, though. “Hopefully.”

I cross my fingers under the table and knock on one of the wooden legs.

It’s snowing that light, drifty kind of snowfall when we walk home. I like this kind of snow.

“Should have brought the car,” Daddy grumbles.

Mama looks up at the sky and smiles. She loops her arm through his, “I don’t mind,” she says. “This is much more romantic.”

Daddy snorts but he smiles too.

Dylan skips ahead, weaving in and around the snowflakes.

We come around the corner and there, standing under the streetlight in front of Hope House, are Ree and Ajax.

My heart stops with my feet. Ree’s never come here at night. Ever. Has something bad happened to Jewel or Baby?

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Ree glances at Daddy and shakes back her dreadlocks.

Dylan wraps his arms around Ajax and rests his cheek on top of the big dog’s silver head.

“Hi, Ree,” Mama says with a smile—a real smile. Daddy nods.

Ree digs deep into her coat pocket. She stretches out her hand to me. “I brought you this.”

Into my palm she drops a wad of crumpled up bills.

Daddy frowns. “Where’d that come from?”

Ree narrows her eyes. A mantle of snow rests on her shoulders and covers her long, black dreadlocks. She looks like an ice queen.

“It’s not stolen, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Mama gives Daddy her hardest glare. “Of course that’s not what we think.”

Ree rolls her eyes. “I told Piper all of us who fly signs are going to give some of what we make every day for Jewel and Baby until they leave for Idaho.”

Mama presses her hand to her heart. She takes the money from me and hands it back to Ree. “We can’t take this, honey. Y’all need it too.”

I think Ree is going to roll her eyes again, what with Mama calling her honey. But instead, she smiles with that one corner of her mouth. “We’re survivors, Mrs. Trudeau.”

She stuffs the money into my coat pocket and, before any of us can say anything about it, she turns and walks away into the snowy night, Ajax trotting along beside her.

Dylan pulls on my hand. “Come on, Peeper, it’s movie night! Free popcorn!” We hurry inside Hope House. The whole place smells like salt and butter. Have I mentioned that popcorn is just about my favorite thing on earth?