Her gaze darts to mine as she fiddles with the remote. “Ah. Well, carry on with your gibberish, then.”

“No, you’re right. I’m being a pain. I’ll shut up so we can enjoy the movie.”

Unfortunately, my cell phone rings just when we’re ready to press play again, and a quick glance at the screen indicates the caller is using the condo’s intercom system. “Hello?”

“Dean, it’s your mom. Can you let me up, son?”

My stomach drops. Melissa Chapman isn’t one for surprise visits. She’s supposed to be across the country. In a motor home. With Harvey. I glance at Solange, who’s frozen in place, then place a hand on her thigh. “Hey, Mom. Are you alone?”

My mother doesn’t immediately respond. I suspect my choice of words isn’t helping. Finally, she says, “Yes, I’m alone.”

“Hang on. I’m in two oh six.”

“I know,” she says on a laugh. “I send you Christmas cards, don’t I?”

She sure does. Sometimes a card and a few phone calls make up the extent of our contact in any given year. Sighing, I type in the numbers that will unlock the front door, then slowly rise from the couch.

Solange follows suit. “We can always watch When Harry Met Sally another time.” She waves a thumb behind her. “I’m going to gather my stuff. It’s probably best if I make myself scarce.”

Seconds ago, I couldn’t contain my excitement about spending time with Solange. Now, it’s as if my mother’s arrival has drained me of even an ounce of energy. I pull Solange toward me. “Let’s play it by ear. See what’s going on first. For all I know, she could be dropping off a souvenir from her trip.”

Solange taps my chest. “I’m going to get my stuff together just in case. And I’ll give you two a few minutes to talk. In the meantime”—she winks at me—“I’ll just be perusing your medicine cabinet.”

I watch her jog out of the living room, then brace myself for whatever has brought my mother to DC. While I’m waiting, I glance at my phone notifications and see a recent text from Max among them. It says:

You sly dog. Lina filled me in. I’m not so sure about this, but I got your back. My advice? Convince Solange to accept the offer in DC. Worry about the rest later.

Offer in DC? What’s he talking about? It takes only a few seconds for me to grasp the gist of Max’s message: Victory Academy must have offered Solange a permanent position. And she didn’t tell me.