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me one, immediately biting into hers.
    “Mmm,” I said, taking a big bite. “Yummy.”
    Mom’s horrified gasp echoed around the kitchen. “CiCi! Are you eating Grandpa’s cookies?”
    CiCi turned, her eyes wide open, cookie crumbs all around her mouth, and frantically shook her head.
    I wasn’t sure who she was trying to kid. She still had half the damn cookie in her hand.
    “It was Mommy,” she said around a mouthful of chocolate chips and crumbs.
    Mom swung her eyes to me. “Cassie! Are you eating all the cookies?”
    I did the exact same thing my daughter had just done. “No. It was CiCi.”
    “Mommy!” she cried, tapping my hand. “It’s not nice to tell tales!”
    Mom laughed. “Sssh, chicken. You’ll wake Grandpa.”
    She clapped a hand over her mouth. The one with the cookie. She still wasn’t fooling anybody, although I did appreciate her attempt at it.
    Only because it was toward Mom. Toward me would have been a different story.
    “Sowwy, Nanny,” CiCi rambled out through a mouthful of cookie.
    Mom rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you go and get Cookie and make sure your pajamas are folded up ready for tonight, okay? And brush your teeth before you come down.”
    “‘Kay.” She ran through the kitchen at a million miles an hour, but when she reached the stairs, she was much, much quieter.
    I felt my mom’s eyes boring into me as I reached for another cookie. She slapped her fingers against mine then pulled a Tupperware box out of the cupboard.
    “How is your friend?” she asked, glancing at me with amused eyes. “It sure was nice of her brother to answer the phone this morning.”
    I coughed as she put a handful of cookies into the tub for us. “She’s fine.”
    “Mhmm.” She snapped the lid in place. “You ain’t fooling me, Cassie Gallagher. Were you careful?”
    “Mom!”
    “What? Mother or not, you’re still my baby.” She thrust the tub toward me, concern in her brown eyes. “Is everything okay?”
    “It’s fine. I finished work early and got with a couple friends. I had fun,” I lied, guilt eating away at my insides.
    Ugh. This was horrible.
    “As long as you were safe.”
    “I was safe. I promise.” I supposed getting drunkenly married was safer than forgetting a condom.
    At least I knew that didn’t happen—forgetting, that is. The wrapper on the floor this morning confirmed my fleeting memory.
    “I’ll bring her back after dinner. Oh, I spoke to my boss,” I added more quietly. “He’s going to see about more shifts. So I can help more.”
    “Cassie, listen to me.” Mom cupped my face with her hands. “It isn’t your job. We’re just fine.”
    I swallowed. “But you’re not. Are you?”
    Her smile was sad, and her heartbreak glimmered in her eyes. “He ain’t going anywhere until he’s damn well ready to. Your father is as stubborn as a mule, and he isn’t done with his doctor. He’s getting a second opinion about treatment on Monday. He decided last night. He’ll give up trying to live the moment he dies.”
    “I know. I figured as much.” I sighed and put the tub in my purse. Two folded twenty-dollar bills caught my eye, and I held them out to her. “Then, while he’s busy being stubborn, take him to buy one of those plane kits he likes. That’ll keep him quiet for a couple of days.”
    “Cassie...”
    “Mom, please. CiCi likes helping him do the building and painting, and I don’t know how long they’ve got left together. I want her to have as many memories as possible.”
    “I don’t want to take your money.”
    “You never do, but it’ll be busy tonight. You take her when you don’t have to. This is my way of thanking you.” I thrust the money at her. “Please?”
    Guilt shimmered in her eyes, but she took the money I’d offered and hugged me tight. I forced myself not to let the sting of tears overwhelm me, so I just squeezed her and pulled back before that could happen.
    Thankfully, CiCi appeared with her matted, old