“Hi, mom,” I chirped enthusiastically, but really, I felt cautious. I hadn’t spoken to her since that whole hotel business, and now I didn’t trust her one bit.

I feared this call was also an attempt to trick me into agreeing to another outrageous plan of hers.

I wondered if she had some trick up her sleeve this time around too.

“Claire, darling!” my mother’s voice rang out, sounding cheerful, yet weak. “How are you, ...