“It’s a wonder you still want to be in our family, after tonight.” And then, as Grant opened his mouth to speak, Joey said, “Do you mind if we’re quiet for a bit? My head is pounding.”

Grant turned onto A1A from Linton, and she saw him open his mouth and then shut it like he was unsure, like his jaw wanted to work, not to go to waste. Joey just closed her eyes, and maybe it was the exhaustion or the stress, or both, but she fell into a quick, hard sleep. And immediately the deserts welcomed her in.

She was the Joey on the edge of the desert.

And she was also the Joey trying to save her.

*  *  *

As they lay in bed, Grant said, “We have to talk about it.”

“I just…I’m not ready to talk about it.” Joey shifted her head in the crook of his shoulder. She couldn’t get comfortable there tonight. She wanted to curl into a solitary ball facing the wall, but she knew that would hurt his feelings.

“Babe.”

She moved onto her back so she still nestled in Grant’s nook, but now she also stared at the glow-in-the-dark constellation on the wall. It made the room slightly less dark. She always hesitated to raise that issue.

“I just…since Leo told me, I saw it so black and white. Mom was the terrible one and Dad was the victim. But now it’s all turned on its head. And my mom’s not innocent, but God, Grant. I’ve been kind of awful to her this past week.”

“Maybe it’s not up to you to dole out the blame. Maybe you should just leave that to the Big Guy upstairs. Anyway, don’t you think they’ve suffered enough? I think things will look different in the morning.”

He didn’t understand. So much could happen before morning.

Grant clasped her face to his with a ferocity that surprised her. “In good times and in bad. I want you to remember that.”

He held her, and for a long time, she let herself be held. “It’s gonna be okay, baby. I promise you it is.” And Grant rolled over to his side of the bed, leaving Joey to stare at his lovely, strong back dappled with starlight.

Joey urged her eyes to stay open, please to hang on—she really wasn’t ready to go to the other side.

*  *  *

Lily slumbered like an angel with her hair fanned out on the pillow and her hands clasped neatly over her stomach.

“I wish she was always like this,” whispered Joey.

“What?” asked Grant. “Mute?”

“Ha. Maybe that too. No, what I meant was it reminds me of when she was little. She was so cute and sweet when she was sleeping.”

Lily twisted toward the door. “Are you guys watching me sleep? Because that’s creepy.”