“Oh Tobias, are you taking your friends out for a little jaunt? Don’t forget to be back for the party later.” We look up to see Tobias’s mother standing at the top of the basement stairs, dressed in a chic white sweater and long cream trousers, contrasting beautifully against her dark skin. She looks like a supermodel rather than someone’s mom.

“No problem, Mom. We’ll be back to help set up.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Tobias gestures at me to follow him. My breath immediately hitches in my chest. In all the frantic worry about the convention and finding Lake Baku, I’d forgotten I would be meeting Tobias’s parents.

Thoughts race through my head even as my feet carry me toward Tobias and up the stairs to meet his mom. Thankfully, she gives me a warm smile that makes me feel a lot more at ease. We step out into the gorgeous atrium, and Tobias puts his hand on the small of my back.

“Mom, this is Lacey.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say. “Thank you so much for inviting us up to your cottage. It’s absolutely beautiful.” I extend my hand.

She clasps it in both her neatly manicured hands. “My pleasure. And so pleased to meet you, Lacey! We’ve heard a lot about you from Tobias here.”

I blush. I can’t believe Tobias has told his mom about me. She doesn’t let go of my hand, even as she continues talking. “And I take it you’ve recovered completely? Tobias told me about your hospital stay. So brave going back out into the cold now. You take care of her.” She directs that last part at Tobias while patting my hand gently.

“I will, Mom,” he says. “But we want to get out while the snow is still fresh.”

“All right, I get the hint.” Before unclasping my hand, she pulls me in a bit closer. She smiles at me with her perfect, sparkling white teeth. “And don’t worry, Lacey, I’ll make sure you have a front-row seat to the action for the convention.”

I stifle the wave of fear that comes over me and manage to stutter out my thanks.

“Well done,” whispers Tobias to me as we head back downstairs to the basement. “My mom can be kind of intense.”

I shake my head. “She’s amazing,” I say, and I mean it. I think about all the buildings she’s designed, all the impressive homes she’s built. Has she ever had her ambition curbed, or was she allowed to pursue her dreams? I doubt she would allow it. It makes me sad for my mom. She let go of her dreams, and now she’s paid the ultimate price for it by being updated out of her ambitions.