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“About time for what? What does that mean?”

“Nothing, honey. Here. It’s hot as blue blazes out here, drink something so you don’t pass out.”

My lips quirk. The woman is full of sayings I’ve never heard, but they roll off her tongue with such ease, I’m convinced I’m just behind the times.

A floppy white hat shields her face and head full of graying coils from the sun, and I smile because of the comfort her presence brings me.

She’s a breath of fresh air after a lifetime of not having a single older woman in my life. Ms. Agnes could tell me the sky is green, and grass is blue and I’d believe her.

All it took was a month of her loving on me for me to form an attachment. It only took a week with Indigo, so I guess that checks out. Considering the circumstances…

“What’s on your mind, sunshine?”

My answer gets stuck in my throat like a stubborn sneeze until a cold and sticky liquid slides between my toes.

Something wet nudges my left shin and I connect the dots, realizing it’s Titus’ nose. His high-pitched whine snaps through me like a bolt of lightning and I’m alert again.

Then I look down at my sandals and shiver at the shine of lemonade coating my right foot.

The mason jar Ms. Agnes handed me minutes ago is on the ground beside it. Empty now, save for the sprig of mint sticking to the glass.

When did I drop my lemonade?

“Delilah…Delilah!”

When my eyes finally focus, Ms. Agnes looks at me with an alarmed expression that ages her face twenty years.

“Come on, sunshine. Let’s get you in the house before these ants tear up your feet.”

“I dropped my lemonade,” I say, the words coming out disjointed. “Sorry, let me clean it up.”

“No, you getting in the house and I’ll come take care ofthat later.” She grabs my hand and leads me through the kitchen door to the breakfast table.

Seated in Adonis’ usual spot, I watch her snatch off her hat and fling it on the counter.

On a mission, she rushes to grab paper towels, wetting them under the faucet before speed walking back to me.

“Why do you look like you just saw a ghost? Is everything okay?”

“Of course everything’s okay, sunshine.” But her words lack confidence as she kneels before me.

“Ms. Agnes, I can?—”

“Just let me do it, Delilah.Please.”

The fierceness of her command leaves me speechless, so I sit there while she tends to me, her hands moving frantically until my foot and ankle are no longer sticky.

She gets up without another word and throws the thick paper towel away, washing her hands before she faces me. “Why don’t we stay inside for the rest of the day and relax? I’ll show you those movies I was telling you about earlier.”

“Oh…okay.”

Agnes grins, but the light above the table catches the watery shimmer in her eyes. Her hands find either side of my head, holding me in place while she scans my face.

“You just scared the daylights out of me, sunshine.” A tender affection blankets her voice. “Come on, I’ll make Victor get the theater room in the basement ready while we grab some snacks.”

I can’t believeI spent so much time avoiding Adonis’ basement. It’s like a whole other house down there and notthe dungeon I trumped it up to be in my mind. Definitely nothing like the tunnel to hell in my childhood home.

For six hours, Ms. Agnes, Titus and I watch movies on the big screen. We eat lunch down there and by the end of the day, the roof of my mouth is close to raw from the number of sour candies I took from the fully stocked snack counter.