I stared at my phone.
Sophie read the message over my shoulder.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Can I say a bad word?”
“No.”
“Can I think one?”
“Absolutely.”
That evening, I paid the repair bill myself.
Then I printed something.
Denise’s niece was graduating the following weekend.
I knew because Denise had displayed a graduation sign in her yard for nearly two weeks.
She was hosting the party.
Around forty guests.
Maybe more.
Three days before the celebration, there was a knock at my door.
Of course.
It was Denise.
“Hey, neighbor.”
