“Whatever do you mean?” Dad frowned.
“I don’t want to study medicine. I want to study psychology.”
“Psychology?” Mom balked. “But that isn’t the plan.”
“Plans change, Mom,” I snapped.
I’d been thinking about the future a lot since my first session at the center when I’d watched Claudia lead the talking circle. Being a doctor was only one way to care for people. Counseling and therapy was another.
“Michael, talk some sense into your daughter. She’s being ridiculous.”
“Why? Because I’m making a decision for myself? Is that not okay, Mom? Do you want to choose my career, my boyfriend, and my friends? Speaking of the fact I have no friends, does Dad know what you did?” I looked her right in the eye so she could see exactly what I thought of her schemes. “One of the reasons why my sister won’t hang around with me anymore?”
The words—theaccusation—pierced the air. Mom’s perfect mask slipped just a fraction. But I saw it. I saw the cracks.
And I reveled in them.
“Sabrina?” Dad said, casting a suspicious eye on her. “What on earth is she talking about?”
“I did what needed to be done to protect our daughter,” Mom sneered. “Harleigh and her friends are bad influences, Michael. Your daughter is not good for Celeste, so I took matters into my own hands.”
Thunder flickered across Dad’s expression. “You talked to her. You talked to my daughter behind my back. After everything we’ve been through, you—”
“WHAT ABOUT ME?” Her voice was shrill, making my blood curdle. “What aboutourchildren and their futures? Harleigh came into this family and turned everything on its head. She stole you. She stole you away from me and I won’t just stand by and let her destroy us. So hate me all you like but I only did what you’re too weak to do.” Mom’s defiant gaze slid to mine. “Your big heart has always been your weakness, Celeste. This world is ruthless. You have to think with your head, not your heart. You have to—”
“Stop, Mom. Just stop.” Sadness coated my words. “Are you really that cruel that you would rather see me unhappy and lonely than accept Harleigh into your life? She is not a bad person. This isn’t her fault, and you can’t keep punishing her for Dad’s mistakes.”
Mom silently fumed, a tumultuous storm swirling in her eyes.
“Unbelievable.” Dad let out a weary sigh. “I thought we were finally making progress, that you understood that it isn’t a choice between you and Harleigh, Sabrina. You’re my wife. Mywife. I made vows to you. Ones I intend to honor. But Harleigh is my daughter and I have already made so many mistakes with her. She is a part of this family whether—”
“She will never be a part ofmyfamily.” Mom snarled the words, her perfect mask slipping, revealing the ugly woman beneath. “And if you can’t see that, Michael, if you can’t see the damage you’ve done by ever bringing her here, then you are not the man I married.” She stormed out of the kitchen, taking the air with her.
Dad watched her go, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. When his gaze finally found mine, his expression broke. “Oh, sweetheart. I am sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” He came to me, pulling me into his arms and I fell against him. Because although he wasn’t innocent in all of this either, right now, I really needed someone to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay.
I needed my dad.
* * *
Mom left and didn’t come back. By Thursday night, the atmosphere in the house was oddly calm. Dad asked me and Max to have dinner with him. Mrs. Beaker prepared all of our favorite things, the spread far too excessive for three people.
Until the doorbell rang and Dad gave me a conspiratorial smile. “I’ll just get that,” he said.
“What’s going on?” Max asked, snagging a smoked salmon canapé off one of the plates.
“I don’t—”
“I thought it might be nice if Harleigh joined us,” Dad said from the doorway.
I turned a little to find my sister standing there, apology glittering in her eyes.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” Dad ushered her toward the table, “Mrs. Beaker made all of our favorites.”
“That’s… she didn’t need to do that.”