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Keep it cool, she tells herself. It’ll be okay. Mom’s usually quite the charmer in public — except when she isn’t

One week since the trip to the mountains. Nearly a week since Rivi’s entire past shattered into fragments of lies

“I’m back! What can I say? I missed you guys too much!” Dini grinned at the wild applause

Much as she’d want to insinuate herself into this life, it wasn’t hers to have. She calls a different woman “Mom”

Penina shoots a grateful look at Gabe, and Gabe coaxes Daniel forward with the magic words, “Hey, do you want to see a cool snake?”

It had been a show of trust that Rivi had even allowed Penina into her house