Chapter 15: Whose Is This

"Surprise!" my mother called from the front hall. "We caught the red-eye!"

Devin was already out of bed, hunting for his jeans in the dark.

"Stay here," he whispered.

"No."

"Katie."

"I'm not hiding in your closet," I said. "Not from her."

I grabbed the nearest thing, which was his grey t-shirt, and pulled it over my head.

It hung to the middle of my thighs.

I knew exactly how it looked, and I was too tired and too angry to care.

He zipped his jeans, gave me a look I couldn't read, and went out first.

I followed him down the hall in my bare feet.

My mother was standing in the middle of the front hall with her purse on her shoulder and her coat over her arm.

She looked wonderful.

She had cut her hair to her chin, and she had a tan I'd never seen on her.

She was glowing.

Behind her, a tall man in a pressed pink polo shirt was wiping his shoes on the mat.

"Devin!" said my mother, and went to kiss his cheek, and he let her, stiffly.

"Renee," he said. "You said noon."

"We changed flights. Gordon found a cheaper fare, and I couldn't wait another minute." She turned, and her whole face lit. "And there's my girl!"

She crossed the hall and hugged me before I could decide whether to let her.

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