If anything her mother’s disapproval made Becca want to keep Freud even more. In the beginning, Virginia barely acknowledged Freud. Of course he wore her down too. Before long Virginia was volunteering to dog sit, making him gourmet dishes of rice and ground beef, and sneaking him treats. Becca was certain her mother would eventually warm up to Ash just like she’d done with Freud. She was mistaken.

“Ash took him with her. She ran away sometime early this morning,” Becca said. “That’s all we know right now.”

“Poor girl,” Virginia said, tsking in between words. “I said a prayer on the way over, and I’ll go to Mass later tonight and light a candle.” She reached out and tenderly touched Becca’s cheek. The gesture startled her. When Becca was little, Virginia smothered Becca and her brother with kisses and hugs. After Robbie died, everything changed. Becca could count on one hand how many times they even hugged. It was why she was so vigilant about hugging Ash, doing everything possible to make her feel loved.

“This is just too much. Eventually, you have to draw a line in the sand. Kids need boundaries, and as much as you want to believe she’s fixed, the damage is done.”

It didn’t shock Becca that her mother would discount all of Ash’s progress over the past twenty-four months. She wasn’t there for any of the hundreds of victories they’d shared. The holidays and birthdays, the movie nights and Disney vacations, Ash’s continued progress in school and her newfound love of photography. Virginia didn’t care. She never really accepted Ash. She wasn’t flesh and blood and therefore she didn’t really count.

“Virg, this isn’t the time,” Christian said, his voice soft, but Becca could hear the edge. It took a lot to push Christian’s buttons, but her mother always seemed to know just how to do it.

“Christian, you know what I’m saying is true or you wouldn’t have called me.”

Becca seethed. Since when was Virginia on Team Christian? What happened to all those times she told Becca she was making a mistake marrying a cop? Her constant monologue about how they were power hungry and cruel and didn’t really care about people?

“Virginia, don’t do this. Not now,” Christian said sharply.

“I’m not saying anything we don’t all know. Ash is a damaged young woman, and eventually you have to reconcile you’ve done everything you can to save her,” Virginia insisted.

“Mama, stop talking. Please,” Becca said.

“You think this isn’t hard on me, or your father? After everything we’ve been through.”