Reyona eased, with relief, into the chair her dad pulled out for her.

“Thanks, Dad,” she said gratefully, and the latter patted her shoulder affectionately as he said. “You did great. It will only get easier from now on.”

“Let’s try not to do that so often until you are totally fine, though,” Gladys said anxiously.

“Yes, Mom,” Reyona said to get the anxiety off her mom’s face.

As Toria called the hostess who had led them in and they started their discussion, Reyona couldn’t help but think of the strained conversation that she and Celia had.

If it could even be called a conversation at all.

Reyona didn’t think...