For the first time ever, silence met her ears. Her mother hadn’t ended with “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t care what you do” or even “Goodbye.” Nessa shoved the phone into her hip pocket. “You remember that old phone Nanny Lucy had when we were little kids? The one with a cord, and you could slam the receiver down and hang up on someone?”

“She had it when I left home.” April nodded. “She didn’t get a mobile phone set up until a few years ago. I saw her hang up on a few people and wondered if they would ever hear anything in that ear again.”

“Mama just hung up on me, and I could swear that I felt the loud click even though I know cell phones don’t work that way,” Nessa said.

“Miz April,” a thin voice yelled out from the exit doors.

“Hello, Callie.” April waved toward the little girl who had left her father’s side and was running toward her.

“Guess what? Belle loves her new house, but sometimes she gets lonely, so Daddy said I can come pick out one more kitty to keep her company,” Callie said without catching her breath.

Kent pushed his cart over toward April and Nessa. “Hello, April. She’s talked me into adopting another kitten, so we’ll be by to see you again sometime this week.”

“I’m going to name this one Cindy, after Cinderella.” Callie grinned up at April. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, do you?” April asked.

“Nooo. I’m just six years old. That’s too young to get married, and that’s what boyfriends are for, ain’t it?” Callie asked.

“Calliope Wallace!” Kent finally caught up with her. “That’s not a nice question to ask a lady.”

“Well,” Callie huffed, “I needed to know because you ain’t got a girlfriend, and I bet if you got one, she would love Belle and Cindy.”

Kent shot a brilliant smile toward April. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “She has no filter on her mouth.”

“Oh, to be young and be able to say anything on my mind.” April returned the smile. “This is my cousin Nessa O’Riley. Nessa, this is Kent Wallace and his daughter, Callie.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Kent said, but his eyes stayed on April.

“You’ve got hair like Ariel in The Little Mermaid,” Callie said to Nessa. “Daddy, can I dye my hair like that?” She looked up at him with her big blue eyes.

“Not until you are thirty years old,” Kent said.

Callie crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s what you always say.”

“Yep, it is, and we’d better be getting on our way if we’re going to the movies,” Kent said.

“Bye, April. Bye, Ariel. Hey, Daddy, wait a minute. Can April go with us?” Callie asked.