“Doesn’t that seem a little odd to you?”

“I don’t know. I suppose, but why does it matter?” He was lying back against his pillow, his head turned in her direction.

“It’s just strange.”

“It was just a wrong number, Lina. It’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”

When Lina entered the kitchen the following morning, Megan was at the table eating yogurt and looking down at her cell phone. “I took the last yogurt. Would you make sure you get more?”

“Would you make pancakes?” Logan asked as he came in from the family room, his dark hair tousled and his eyes puffy from sleep.

“Sure.” Lina combed her fingers back through his hair as she kissed his cheek. “Don’t forget the paper. Your dad’s on his way down.” It was Logan’s responsibility to bring in the paper that was left at the end of the driveway.

“Good morning.” Phil, dressed in his running clothes, entered the kitchen and joined Megan at the table.

Lina set a container of creamer and sugar on the table before him. “Coffee will be ready in a minute and Logan’s getting the paper. What would you like for breakfast? Pancakes? Egg-white omelet?” She rubbed his shoulder.

“I’ll have an omelet.”

“Are you going to Baltimore to run?” Megan asked.

“No.”

“If I had known I wouldn’t have made plans with Amanda. I’d rather run with you.”

“We can go after church tomorrow,” Phil said.

“Do you want more to eat?” Lina asked Megan.

“No, I’m going shopping with Amanda. I have to buy a dress for the after-prom party. I have to leave in a minute.”

“A dress for the after-prom party? You just spent a ridiculous amount on a prom dress. I’m sure you have a dress in your closet you could wear,” Lina said.

“No! Everyone gets a new dress. This is my senior prom.”

“You don’t need a new dress.”

“Dad?” Megan turned to Phil. “Talk to her. She’s being ridiculous. I only have one senior prom!”

“Lina, it is her senior prom.”

“We bought her a dress for her senior prom. If it’s so important for her to have a dress for the after party, she can spend her own money.”

“That’s not fair. This is like a school event. I shouldn’t have to spend my own money.”

Phil pressed his index finger over his lips, raising his eyebrows at Megan before coming to his feet. Seconds later he led Lina into the dining room. “What’s the big deal?”

“She probably has twenty dresses.”

“So she’ll have twenty-one.”

“You’re spoiling her.”

“She deserves it. Her scholarship alone is going to save us eighty thousand over the course of her four years in college.”

“Fine,” she sighed.

“Don’t say that unless you mean it.”

“It’s fine.” She patted his chest before going back into the kitchen. This was an argument she knew she wouldn’t win. Even if Megan had to use her own money, Phil would figure out a way to reimburse her. Last time Lina insisted Megan purchase her own concert tickets, Phil had paid her a hundred dollars to wash his car.