“Detective, it can’t really be you,” a voice called out from behind us — warm, familiar, and just a touch theatrical. “It’s been, what, at least ten years since I st id eyes on you!”

  Lily and I turned in unison. There he was: short, round, and smiling from ear to ear. His shirt was an eye-watering pid in shades of pink and magenta, tucked tightly into a pair of khakis held up by worn suspenders. If the voice hadn’t given him away, the outfit certainly did.

  “Mr. Kaln,” I said, feeling the edges of a smile tug at my face. “It’s good to see you.”

  He stepped closer, eyes flickering over to Lily with curiosity.

  “This is Lily,” I added. “She’s starting her freshman year.”

  Lily offered a shy nod, her fingers still dancing nervously around the silver bird at her neck.

  “Well, I’ll be,” Mr. Kaln said, pcing a hand over his heart. “Welcome to Little Rock High, Lily. We sure are happy to have you here. Your mother sure made us proud. We can't wait to see the things you'll accomplish."

  He didn’t say it with pity, but with that gentle reverence people reserve for names they haven’t spoken in a long time.

  I caught a flicker of something when I gnced at Lily—a hint of a smile, and maybe even the tiniest glimmer of pride. She’s proud of me?

  "The building hasn't changed all too much since you were st here, Detective," Mr. Kaln began.

  "Please, Mr. Kaln, call me Ruth," I interjected with a smile.

  "In that case, you can call me Dean," he beamed.

  "Does that mean I get to call him Dean, too?" Lily whispered with a giggle.

  "She's got a sense of humor, too! You'll do just fine here at Little Rock," Mr. Kaln smiled. "Anywhoo, let's head on upstairs shall we? It would be my pleasure to take you to Lily's first css. Let's take a look at that schedule kiddo."

  ...

  We began the slow ascent up the creaky staircase—just as I remembered it from my own days here. The same loose railing, the same chipped steps worn down by generations of restless feet. A fresh start for Lily. A new school, new friends, and maybe—just maybe—a little peace.

  I was mid-thought when—

  “Oh my, excuse me!” a voice called out, cutting clean through my reverie.

  I looked up to see a woman in a sharply pressed navy bzer approached from the opposite direction. Slender, mid-to-te forties, her hair tucked neatly beneath a polished headband. A walkie-talkie clipped smartly to her chest pocket, and just beneath it, a name tag: Ms. Cra Holbrook.

  She stopped short, eyes flicking between the three of us with professional precision. Something about her told me she wasn’t one to miss much.

  “I sincerely apologize, ma’am. I was just—”

  Her eyes nded on Lily, and in that moment, something shifted. The brightness in her expression faltered, her face flushing just slightly. It was gone as quickly as it had come—so fast, I might’ve imagined it. But I rarely imagine those things.

  She recovered with the kind of ease that comes from years of practice. “I was just on my way to check in on a student,” she continued smoothly. “Cra Holbrook, guidance counselor here at Little River. A pleasure to meet you.”

  She extended a hand, but her attention had already shifted back to Lily.

  “And who do we have here?”

  “This is Lily,” I said, watching her closely now. “It’s her first day of freshman year.”

  “Lily,” Ms. Holbrook said warmly. “What a lovely name. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you. Freshman year can be… a lot, but I want you to know my door is always open. If you need anything—anything at all—you’re welcome to stop by.”

  Lily offered a small, polite smile. “Okay. Thank you.”

  With that, Ms. Holbrook gave a final nod and turned on her heel, disappearing down the hallway in a cloud of quiet authority and the faint scent of decaf coffee.

  I rested a hand gently on Lily’s shoulder—not to startle her, just to remind her I was still there.

  “Have a great first day, Lily. I’m proud of you.”

  She gnced up at me with a soft smile. “Thanks, Ruth. I will.”

  Beside us, Mr. Kaln shifted slightly. His eyes moved between us—curious, searching—but he said nothing. We don’t use the words mother and daughter, not exactly. But the truth is simpler than the title: I love Lily with everything I have. And that’s enough.