went away when we were babies. Claire said she didn’t want us either.”
Lily opened her eyes.
“She said we made Mommy sad,” Lily murmured.
Owen looked at her sharply, like he had not meant to wake her.
I kept my voice steady. “Do you remember your mom?”
They both shook their heads.
“Do you know her name?”
Lily whispered, “Anna.”
Anna Bennett.
Another piece of a life I did not know.
Maya returned with news just before nine.
Emergency foster placement was available for the night with a certified family near Park Ridge. It was, by all accounts, a good home. Warm. Experienced. Safe.
Lily listened without expression.
Owen looked at the floor.
“Will we go to school tomorrow?” Lily asked.
“Not tomorrow,” Maya said. “Tomorrow we’ll figure out next steps.”
“Will Claire come get us?”
Maya paused. “Not tomorrow.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
Lily nodded like she had
