I tell Sophie my plan to leave, but it’s met with resistance as she wants to stay until my mother is home and healing and be here to take care of her until she is sure she can cope alone. I think of Ray and shake my head. Sophie shouldn’t be here; it won’t be long before he’s back, and my mother won’t throw him out. Jocelyn Anderson will never give him up, not for Sophie, me, or anyone. I try and talk quietly, so Jake doesn’t hear the conversation.

“One week?” she asks ...