Joan tried not to cock her head and look at her sideways, but she had middling success.

“I don’t think I’ve given you enough credit for everything that you have done for Frances and me these past few years. Well, no,” Barbara said. “Not the past few years. Her entire life.”

It was like being handed a gift you had wanted desperately five years ago. One that Joan had taught herself how not to yearn for anymore. And, therefore, did not know what to do with now.

“Oh,” Joan said.

“When she was born, I was so lost. I was so angry,” Barbara said. “I was angry at the world for finding myself in that position. And I…I knew, in those moments, that I could rely on you. I have relied on you for such a long time, and I think, well…Daniel has helped me see that I was embarrassed. For needing you. So I acted like it was nothing. That was wrong of me. I’m sorry.”

“Wow,” Joan said. “That’s—”

“And you have been an extra parent to Frances in many ways. Ways not every sister would have been. So thank you. Because of that, I want to include you in our news.”

Joan could sense something was coming, and she felt stupid for not seeing the punch before it landed.

“Frances is going to boarding school.”

Joan felt the breath pulled out of her lungs. “What? Barb, no.”

“Yes, she is.”

“She’s not even in junior high.”

“Some of these schools start in sixth grade. She’ll begin the school year at Landingham Prep after Labor Day. It’s in Dallas. Lots of kids go there and love it.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because the current situation is not working.”

“You have to give it time.”

Barbara shook her head with a patience that enraged Joan.

“I cannot believe you are doing this to her,” Joan said.

“Plenty of children go to boarding school, Joan. Don’t be dramatic.”

“She is ten years old. She’s young for her grade. She’s not ready.”

“She’s certainly old enough to cause trouble.”

“She’s hurting and confused about you getting married and her life changing. This is not the time, even if boarding school were right for her.”

“Joan, please—”

Joan’s heart rate was rising. “And the worst part is, you know better.”

“I know better? Excuse me. You have no idea how she speaks to him, Joan. It’s unacceptable. And that’s not even getting into how she speaks to me. Daniel is honestly worried about her. That she needs some discipline. Maybe I did wrong by her, up until now. I felt so guilty about being a single mother that I babied her. She needs structure, and she’s not accepting the structure we are giving her. So this is how she’s going to get it. It’s good. It’s good for her.”