“Yes, for now we can be done.” She took the pillow from me and tossed it on the armchair. “See why I only ever had little kids?” She turned the TV volume back up.

“Francine.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You believed me today. At school. Without proof.”

“Your word is proof.”

Wow.

“Between you and me,” she said, “Tiana’s and Katrina’s moms are both ‘bride at every wedding, corpse at every funeral’ type gals. If you know what I mean.”

“Yikes.”

“People make a whole lot of excuses for bad behavior when they’re related by blood, and that’s not love. That’s not family. That’s narcissism.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“For what?”

“That I got you in the principal’s office. I’m sorry that because of me, now Barb thinks you would bring someone bad into the school. We got them suspended. Will all the parents hate you now because of me?”

She looked at me. “Never apologize for someone else’s ignorance. You are not responsible for that, ever. Understand? I told you, Barb is…let’s just say we’re not working with the top brass there. If anyone hates me because some spoiled brats finally got a well-deserved consequence, then great, hate away. I was humiliated when Barb said that nonsense about you, about your record. I wanted this to be a good school for you.”

“It is good, I swear. I’m used to people saying what Barb said. But I don’t go around making trouble in school ever, you know that, right?”

“You didn’t make trouble—you got something done. You know I’ve read your file; you’re a ghost with good grades.”

“I’ve never…I don’t do that. Principals never even learn my name; I’m always gone before they know I’m in their school. But, Francine, those girls were vicious to Kira. No one was going to do anything about it.”

“I know.”

“And I’ve never had a friend for so long, in one place.”

“I know.”

“But I don’t want to be trouble for you.”

“Trouble? Listen to me. I am so proud of you I can’t stand it. You are a good person. A brave person and a true friend to Kira. Maybe now, for the first time, you’re having some battles. It’s because you’re living a life, with people who matter. Nothing causes trouble more than that.”

Terry Johnson shifted in my lap.

“I want to hug you now,” I said. “Okay?”

She laughed. “I appreciate the warning.”

I leaned over Terry Johnson and put my arms around Francine’s soft shoulders.

“Muir, are you crying?”

“No,” I said, wiping my tears on Terry Johnson’s blanket. “It was just a really nice night,” I said. “Thank you for letting me stay out late.”