Chapter 17: Gave Me Away

Eli sat down on the edge of the bed and held out his hand, palm up.

"Come here, bug."

Birdie came. She didn't climb on. She stood by his knee and looked at the bent little finger on his left hand.

"Yours is the same as mine," she said.

"It is."

"Mama says I got mine from a bird, because I'm Birdie."

"Your mama is very creative," Eli said, carefully. "Some families have the same finger. My dad had it. His dad had it."

"Do I have a grandpa with it?"

"You did," I said.

Birdie looked at me, and I saw her decide not to ask.

I put her back in bed. She went with her rabbit under her chin and her eyes open, and she watched the door until I went out.

On Sunday evening my mother's car pulled up in front of the house.

She had come early. Brody saw it through the blinds and went white.

"I didn't call her," he said.

"I know you didn't."

She came up the walk in her cream blazer with her purse over her arm, smiling at the neighbors across the street.

Eli opened the door.

"Mrs. Ostrander."

"Eli. How kind of you to host." She stepped past him into the hall. "Birdie! Mama's here, sweet pea. Get your bag."

Birdie came out of the spare room with her duffel. She stopped beside Eli's leg.

"Mama," she said. "Why does Eli have my finger?"

The kitchen went silent.

My mother set her purse on the counter.

She looked at Eli's hand. She looked at me. I saw her do the sum again, and I saw her decide.