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She shifted uncomfortably and took a deep breath. “Nope.” Shenodded to a spot about twenty-five yards away. “She’s right over there.”

“What?” Devyn quirked her head. “I had no idea. I thought your dadraised you.”

“He did, and he was wonderful. I miss him every day, much like youand your mom.” She decided she should maybe explain. “My mother left us when Iwas in the second grade. Rode out of town on the back of a motorcycle with someguy she deemed infinitely more exciting than we were. A tourist named Todd.”

“God, I’ve always hated that name,” Devyn said, as if she had abad taste in her mouth. “All the more reason.”

“Right?” She sighed. “She showed back up fourteen years later witha husband, not Todd, and now lives withhim,raising his two daughters. That’s them next to her at the jewelry booth. Twelveand fourteen now.”

Elizabeth stopped short of explaining that though her motherclaimed to have come back to town to be nearher,they rarely spoke for longer than three minutes in any given stretch.

“Hey, there, Lizzie-Loo.” It was almost as if they’d summoned her.Elizabeth cringed at the use of the childhood nickname, unique to her mother.Kristine Lockwood, her married name, raised an energetic hand from where shestood shopping. “Good to see you, sweetie,” she yelled in her sassy Southernaccent. Elizabeth used to try to mimic it when she was little. Not so much now.

They walked toward her, and a pit arrived in the center ofElizabeth’s stomach right on time. “Hi, Mom. Having fun?”

Her mother, who wore her bright red hair up and tall today,brightened. Her makeup was flawless as always, if a little thick. “Looking forsomething special for these sweet girls. They’ve both gotten good grades thisterm, and I promised them we’d pick up a special treat.”

“How great,” Elizabeth said, wondering what that must be like, tohave a mother care about your grades, or even know what they were, for thatmatter. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for Mika and Milla—they seemed likenice enough girls—but somehow, they’d landed a stepmother who was fifty timesthe mother Elizabeth had had. She couldn’t help her envy.

“Who’s your friend, sweetheart?” her mother asked, gesturing to Devynwith a smile.

“Oh, right. Forgive me. This is Devyn Winters. She’s an old highschool classmate in town from Philadelphia.”

“Well, welcome back to the Bay,” Kristine said, with a hand on herhip. “I left and came back, too, ya know. Just couldn’t stay away from thosegorgeous beach views. Our house has beach access.”

“Which shot your property value up by at least a third,” Devynsaid, and then winced. “Sorry. Force of habit.”

“She’s in real estate,” Elizabeth offered.

“Well, isn’t that as exciting as a pig tussle?” Kristine hadalways enjoyed a good, nonsensical phrase.

“This one.” Milla picked up a silver necklace with an infinitysign and held it up. “Mom, what do you think? I’m thinking this would lookawesome sauce with my navy top. Oh, hi, Elizabeth,” the young teenager saidwith a hint of polite enthusiasm.

“Hey, Milla. Looks like a good choice to me.” She tried to smilebut found it hard. All of a sudden, she just wanted to be anywhere but rightwhere she was. “We’re headed home, I think.” She exchanged a look with Devyn,who nodded as a concerned expression creased her features.

They said their goodbyes and her mother instructed her to stop bysometime “for some iced tea or something”—which was about all she ever said inthe way of invitation. Nothing concrete. Nothing that would ever actuallyhappen. The idea of Elizabeth in her life was really just that: a nice thought,but probably too much work.

She and Devyn walked the streets of Dreamer’s Bay quietly, tiredfrom the day, or in their own thoughts. Likely, a mix of both. She foundherself a little introspective after the run-in with Kristine. It happenedfrequently enough that she should have been used to it by now, but old woundstake a long time to heal.

“Things seemed…a little strained with your mom,” Devyn saiddelicately.

“Oh, they are.” She smiled. “You don’t have to feel weird aboutthat. It’s been a thing since I was seven.”

“Got it. Her daughters are your sisters, then?”

“No. Well, stepsisters technically, but we’ve never really embracedthat relationship. They live their lives and me and my dad lived ours. Until Ilost him.”

“That had to be rough. I’m sorry.” A pause. “Wanna walk down tothe beach?”

Elizabeth turned, liking this idea. “What’s prompted thissuggestion?”

“You look like you could use a little bit of calm. When I was akid, finding a spot on the pier and just relaxing used to help. In a smalltown, it’s hard to find a truly quiet spot.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I did the exact same thing. Still do. Iguess we’re not as different as we thought.”

“Um. Let’s not get carried away,” Devyn said, holding up a finger.“We’re very different, Ms. Chicken Serenade.”

“I could serenade you right now,” Elizabeth said, leaping into theroad and making a sweeping gesture with her hand.