Chapter 23

• Sara and Maddy sat at a small table, eating their lunch and chatting. Maddy asked Sara, "Why is your mom so... old-fashioned? I mean, I know she wants the best for you, but some of her ideas seem so... outdated."
• Sara sighed, putting down her fork. "It's because of where we come from, Maddy. Tehran, where I grew up, is a different world. My mom... she had a really tough life."
• Maddy's eyes were curious. "What do you mean?"