“Star!” my father’s voice booms. I turn to see him entering the dining room. He’s wearing a pale blue shirt and a navy blue tie with gray pants. His arms are open wide, and he’s smiling as he approaches. Instinctively, I stand up to greet him. This time, he wraps me in a warm hug. I feel my heart melt, and I hug back, surprised by the familiarity of it all. I’m taken aback to realize how clearly I remember being hugged by him all of a sudden.

“Hi,” I say as we pull away. “Your house is really nice.”

“Thank you.” My father beams. “We had a cleaning service come today. Nothing but the best for you.”

“Star?” I hear Lynda reenter the room behind us. I turn, and my eyes instantly settle on the little girl she has with her. Alison is staring at me with the same wide green eyes I have, looking uncomfortable in a frilly pale pink party dress that’s a little too small for her. “This is our daughter, Alison,” she says.

“Hi,” I say softly, unable to take my eyes off her. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.

“Hi,” she says, staring right back at me. I squat down next to her and look her in the eye.

“I’m Star,” I say. “But you can call me Amanda if you want. That’s my real name.”

“So why do you say your name is Star if it’s not your real name?” she asks suspiciously. I smile.

“It’s just what everyone calls me,” I say. I glance up at my father and Lynda, both of whom are smiling. I look back at Alison.

“Mommy says you’re that famous singer,” she says. “The one who sings ‘Fight Fire with Fire.’ ”

“Yes,” I say. “I am.”

“You don’t look like her,” she says.

My father nudges Alison. “Isn’t there something you wanted to say to Star?” he asks. Alison looks confused for a moment, then her face lights up.

“Oh yeah,” she says. “Would you be my sister?” she asks.

I can feel tears fill my eyes. For a moment, I can’t speak. There’s a lump in my throat. I gulp it back and smile.

“I’d love to be,” I say.

But as we all sit down to eat, I can’t silence the little voice in the back of my head that tells me her words sounded strangely rehearsed.

I feel underdressed in my gray Amy Tangerine tee, jeans and sneakers. It didn’t occur to me that my dad and his family would be dressed up like they’re on their way to church or something.

First, we eat tomato bisque.