I struggled against the envy clotting up in my throat. “My mother is a caring and generous woman. Anyone who shows her kindness receives it tenfold in return.” What I wanted to say was, ‘You’re not special.’ But if these people were truly as important to Muriel as they claimed, then I had no right to disrespect the bonds she had forged while I was still searching for her. “Sure. We can have a service for her.”

Gavin squeezed Billie’s hand. “We still have some things of hers ...