“Do you know Aunt Bree and Uncle Jake, too?”
“Not really. I’m more your mommy’s friend.”
She considers that for a moment, but then her little cheeks start to droop. “Have you seen my Mommy?” she asks. “Because I haven’t. She hasn’t called.”
I move a little closer to her. But I do it slow so that I don’t spook her. “Your mom is trying to get to you, Jo,” I tell her. “She’s doing her best.”
“I know,” she says with a little sigh. “But there’s a monster keeping her in a tower.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Who told you that?”
“What else did Aunt Bree tell you?”
“That Mommy loves me very much and she’s going to come back home soon. I just need to be brave… and patent.”
“That’s what I said!” she says with annoyance. “I hate being patient.”
I suppress a chuckle. “Hey, you want me to read you th
