After the memorial service for her brother

—while Lori is in a well-deserved zinfandel-induced stupor—Lori's adoptive mother, Vivienne, wrings two promises from her: never put Vivienne in a nursing home and never have her committed. Almost as soon as Lori agrees, her adoptive mother careens headfirst downhill, brakes off, into the type of dementia where vampires absolutely do exist, but they drink milk instead of blood.

No problem. Lori is a nurse. She should be able to wrangle the medical system on behalf of her mom. Besides, Lori's deceased brother—a cagey expert in many things, including acquiring illegal substances—is there to help, having set up camp inside Lori's head.

It takes edgy (sometimes dark) humor, persisting poignancy, and a good dose of irreverence to face hard truths and tell this story of going the extra mile (or ten). After all, a promise is a promise. Right?