“In a few days, it’ll be Peter’s birthday. Are youing?”


    Michelle’s question caught me off guard, and it hit me-Peter’s birthday really was just around the corner.


    But even without her reminding me, I wouldn’t forget. I had set reminders for every single birthday in the Dolton family.


    Living with them, I always tried to prepare in advance, to keep everyone happy.


    Though my life here wasn’t exactly living under someone else’s roof, it still felt like walking on eggshells, always worried that one misstep could turn their affection into disdain.


    I didn’t answer right away, lost in thought, but Michelle continued, “Zoe, you know we’ve always treated you like our daughter. Every year, we get your gifts and blessings on our birthdays. If you don’t show up this time, Peter will definitely be


    hurt.”


    I wasn’t nning to go, but the gifts would be sent.


    Now that she asked me like this, I couldn’t just say “no”-especially with Alvin being as crazy as he’s beentely. I was worried that if I went to the Doltons, Alvin might just barge in and drag me off to the bedroom like some kind of madman.


    But if I told Michelle I wasn’t going, she’d probably bombard me with excuses and reasons to change my mind, so I simply said, “Michelle, of course I’lle.”


    “Good, I really was worried you wouldn’t. Peter wouldn’t be able to enjoy his birthday without you,” Michelle said, and I could hear the pressure in her voice.


    I kept quiet, and she added, “Has Alvin done anything crazy again? Peter and I have already had a word with him, but he hasn’t bothered you, has he?”


    I almostughed. Clearly, Michelle didn’t know what Alvin had been up totely. But were they really unaware, or were they pretending not to know?


    I didn’t want to be suspicious or assume the worst about them, especially since they had always treated me well. So I said, “No, he hasn’t.”


    Even if I told her what Alvin had done, Michelle would just try tofort me over the phone, cursing Alvin, promising to deal with him.


    But Alvin was always like this-once his temper red, no one could stop him.


    Even if Michelle yelled at him, it wouldn’t change anything. If I wanted Alvin to calm down, I’d have to do it myself.


    But with Josh not willing to y the part of my boyfriend, this situation was getting tricky.


    “Zoe, if he dares to hurt you or do anything out of line, you call me, okay?” Michelle’s voice was reassuring.


    “Okay,” I said, though I didn’t quite believe that would solve anything.


    “By the way, is there something else you need, Zoe?” Michelle asked, her voice suddenly shifting, probably realizing I hadn’t shared everything yet.


    I looked at the wilted flowers in my hand, taking a deep breath before I asked, “Michelle, did my parents ever like daisies?”


    “Daisies?” she repeated, then asked, “Zoe, are you nning to visit your parents? If you are, let Peter and me know. It’s been a


    while since we’ve been. We could go together.”


    Her response confirmed what I had suspected-the bouquet of daisies wasn’t from them.


    I gripped the flowers a little tighter and said, “Michelle, I’m actually at the cemetery right now.”


    “Ah, you’re there already?” Michelle’s voice turned regretful. “Peter and I were nning to go with you when you had time.”


    What a coincidence. But they say that coincidences are mostly just things people set in motion themselves. Maybe Michelle just went along with my lead.


    “Michelle, do you know if any of my parents’ old friends still remember them or might visit their grave?” I asked directly.


    There was silence on the other end, then Michelle spoke, her tone cautious. “Zoe, did you run into anyone you knew? Why are you asking about this?”


    There’s a bouquet of daisies in front of their tombstone. I thought someone hade to visit them,” I told her honestly.


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