Lily’s POV

I stepped back into the house with the rain still dripping from the edges of my clothes. The umbrella hung loosely in my hand, wet and heavy. Mom was awake again, sitting up on the couch with a blanket around her shoulders. The moment she saw me alone, worry filled her tired eyes.

“Where’s Mia?”

I kept my voice calm and even.

“She’s with one of her friends. She said she wanted to spend some time with her since they haven’t really caught up since graduation. She told me not to wait.”

Mom’s brows pulled together. She glanced toward the dark windows where the rain was still falling...