Well, except for the giant detail of my missing mother.Millie convinces me to keep my presence in In Between a secret until we can surprise everyone at the Fourth of July celebration. And when Frances spots me, she squeals like a bottle rocket.We hug like long-lost sisters. “Oh, my gosh! I thought you weren’t coming!”My smile stretches so wide, my cheeks hurt. “I’m here.”“I can see you’re here!”“No, I mean, I’m here to stay.” Questions flash in Frances’s dark eyes. “My mom got into some trouble.” I look at the other churchies now flocking around us and give her that secret look only a best friend could decipher. I’ll fill you in later.“Where are your crutches?”“Millie twisted some arms and got the doctor to see me this morning. I don’t ever have to see the crutches again.” Those poles of evil. “And the Aircast is gone. I just have to do some therapy exercises and start getting in the habit of using my ankle again.”“Hi, Katie.” Charlie’s gray eyes sparkle.
