I opened my mouth to speak, but she held up a finger for me to wait, her attention zeroed in on a small television sitting on the corner of the counter. The focus of the show was soft, and two people were locked in a passionate embrace. Just as the man deepened the kiss, another entered the room. “How could you?” Then the screen snapped to a commercial.

“Hot damn. I knew it was coming, but I still can’t wait to find out what happens.” The woman who looked to be in her forties turned her attention to me. “Sorry about that, darlin’. I’m hooked on that show somethin’ fierce.”

I couldn’t help but return the woman’s smile. Maybe I needed to pick up a daytime tv habit. “I’m looking for Chrissy O’Connor’s trailer. Can you tell me which one it is?”

The woman’s expression turned wary. “You police? The police have been bothering that poor woman like crazy. I don’t get no trouble from her. The rest of these hooligans? Nothing but headaches. But Chrissy, she gives me no trouble.”

“I’m her daughter.” I hated even saying the words. She’d lost the right to be my mother a long time ago. But I’d say whatever it took to get this over with.

The manager’s eyes widened. “I didn’t even know she had kids.”

“She doesn’t.”

“But you just said—” She waved a hand. “Oh, forget it, I got enough drama with my shows. She’s in number twelve. Far back corner.”

“Thank you.” I left the woman to her show and hopped back into my SUV. As I wove through the park, my stomach knotted tighter and tighter. I tried my best to lock every emotion down, to hide any expression from my face. Because as long as it had been, I didn’t want to give my mother the satisfaction of knowing how much she’d hurt me.

I slowed as the numbers approached twelve. I came to a stop outside a trailer that was somewhere in between the two extremes. There were no potted flowers or cute lawn furniture. But there was no trash in the yard or peeling paint either.

I shut off my engine and took a deep breath. Climbing out of my vehicle, I beeped my locks and gripped my keys so tightly the metal bit into my palm. I climbed the three steps to the home and knocked.

I didn’t hear anything at first. But then again with the warring music lovers on the other side of the park, I wouldn’t have. Just as I was about to knock again, the door opened.