Page 10 of The Glittering Edge

“There were a ton of people there, Mom. It’s not like I was hanging out with Corey and Alonso.”

“That’s not my point,” Anita snaps, barely sounding like herself. “They cause chaos by proximity. I don’t have many rules, but I expect you to respect this one. Understand?”

Anita almost never talks to Penny like this—like she’s five years old, as if she doesn’t have a job and understand grief and the way the world works. This is the same way Naomi talked to Penny last night when she said she wanted to keep living in Idlewood. Even Alonso looked at her like she was sheltered. Stupid.

It ignites a fire in Penny’s chest. Before she knows it, her words are shooting to kill. “I’m not friends with either of them. And even if I was, why should you care? I never judgeyou.”

Anita’s face falls. “What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does.”

Instead of answering, Penny takes a large bite of her egg sandwich.

There’s a long pause. Anita sighs, closing her eyes. “I know I haven’t always made it easy for you to live in this town.”

The wound in her words makes Penny’s anger disappear in a puff of smoke. “It’s not that, Mom—”

“It is,” Penny’s mom says. “I’m always in the moment, living my life, but sometimes I forget how much it affects you.”

“People are way nicer than they used to be,” Penny says, but it sounds weak. She tries again. “I mean, I don’t get teased. Everyone leaves me alone.”

“Probably because I’ve learned not to date your school principals.”

Penny snorts. “At least that got me onto the volleyball team in middle school.”

“You were pretty bad.”

“Yeah, and the coach knew it.” Penny grabs her mom’s hand. “I’m sorry. You know I want you to be happy.”

Anita smiles, but then her eyes move to a spot over Penny’s shoulder. Her hand drifts up to her necklace, fingers wrapping around the tiny moon like it’s a lifesaver in the middle of Lake Michigan.

“What is it?” Penny says, following her mother’s gaze.

“Do you see someone?” Anita asks, her voice a low whisper.

Despite the late-morning heat, Penny suddenly feels cold. Her own words from last night come back to her, and it’s like she’s once again on the roof with Naomi, staring at a distant figure in the dark.

Penny shoots to her feet, scanning the distance, not even sure what she’s looking for. But there’s nothing. Not even a breeze. Only graves, the cracked gray of the country road, and an endless blue sky.

“There’s nobody,” Penny says.

Anita tears her eyes away from the street, but her hand is fidgeting with the necklace.

Penny sits back down. “Did someone give that to you?”

“Hm?” Anita looks down. “Oh yeah. A friend.”

“Are you dating someone?”

Anita laughs, but it sounds forced. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you’realwaysdating someone.”

Anita’s gaze turns to the road. There are bags under her eyes, barely hidden underneath a layer of concealer. The faraway look on her mom’s face is strange. Different. Anita has been through a lot, but she’s always energetic, always positive.

Except right now Anita looks afraid.

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