Once we were settled on the IKEA futon in the tiny family room, my mother asked, “So, have you heard anything else?”

I ran a hand across the crocheted blanket draped over the back of the futon. “Not from the police. They just want us to lay low until they find Lena.”

“You said you got a postcard from that woman?” My mom’s mouth twisted like she could taste something bitter, and I knew she’d put Lena’s name next to Aimee’s in the vault of words she’d never utter again.

“Yes, the police and the FBI are looking into it.”

My mother was no fool, and I’d never had any luck trying to hide something from her. She asked, “Where did the postcard come from?”

“A Fort Bend museum.” But the only postcard I could think about was the one Lena had taken, the one Aimee had sent. Alondra had said the police were pretty sure Lena was still in Texas. Obviously, I hadn’t known her as well as I’d thought. But I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew Lena better than anyone else except Brady.

My mom’s eyes narrowed as if I were a teenager evading a direct question. Instead of challenging me, she turned to my dad. “I think we should stay here with Kacy and Grace.”

He nodded, lifting Grace over his head and pretending to snap at her toes. “I can stop by our house and pack.”

At that, Mom rolled her eyes. “You’ll pack what? A toothbrush and an extra pair of socks. You can’t pack for me. You have no idea what I need.”

“So write it down.” My dad cut his eyes at me to see if I was enjoying the show.

Mom didn’t notice. “It’ll just be easier to do it myself.”

“I’m not letting you go back there alone.” My dad stood up, holding Grace closely. “And if we both go, then Kacy and Grace will be alone.”

As they went back and forth, I felt a warm glow of gratitude. There was evil in the world, vast and malevolent, but there was also this: love that did the work needed, love that came together, even when it was in the ordinary task of packing a suitcase, or grudgingly allowing one’s spouse to pack it.

Finally, Dad promised to stay on the phone the whole time so my mother could tell him what to pack. He handed her Grace and left. The door had scarcely shut behind him when she said, “We shouldn’t have let him go alone.”

“He’ll be okay. Alondra says Lena’s still in Texas.”

She shut her eyes and rested her cheek against Grace’s head. “I just wish I could be sure.”