Daisy was waiting for me in the kitchen when I came back, looking sad enough I knew she already guessed what I'd encountered at the annex.

"You knew she was going to quit." I tossed my jacket to the counter, frustrated and tired and angry for Mom while Daisy looked away.

"I had a feeling," she said. "She's so hurt, Fee. I've never seen your mother like this. Not when she retired, not ever."

I sank to a stool, hard pit of unhappy in my stomach, ...