“He probably does drugs,” Phil said. “And he’s already out of school with no plans to go to college. He’s the last type of influence she needs.”

Lina looked out the window. “What did you do?” She searched the group for the boy with the tattoos, but he seemed to be gone, and Katie was sitting on a chair with her arms wrapped around her knees and her head down.

“I didn’t do anything.” He took a long drag from his beer. “They were all over each other when I walked up, though.”

“You met him?”

“Of course I met him. He’s in my backyard.” He frowned. “You didn’t meet him? Jesus, Lina, they’ve been here all day and you never bothered to meet them?”

“She’s never here, Phil. I thought if I gave them some privacy, she’d start spending more time at home instead of going to Emma’s all the time. You probably just guaranteed that won’t happen.”

“Are you talking about the guy with the tattoo?” Megan asked as she came into the kitchen.

“None of your business,” Lina said, glaring at her. “And I don’t appreciate you going behind my back and sending pictures to your father.”

“What? I just sent him a picture.”

“You interrupted him at work. Katie’s friends are none of your concern.”

“I was just worried about her.”

“Well then you should have talked to me,” Lina said.

“I tried to. You didn’t care.”

“I didn’t care?” Lina spit out. “I cared. I just wasn’t concerned. And you—”

“Lina, calm down.” Phil stroked his hand down her arm.

“No, I’m not going to calm down. I’m mad. She isn’t Katie’s parent. She has no right to an opinion.”

“Leave us,” Phil said, looking past Lina to Megan.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Megan insisted. “I just sent you—”

“You decided I couldn’t parent your sister! You—”

“Go. Now!” Phil pointed to the door. As soon as Megan left, he was turning back to Lina. “Don’t take this out on her.”

“Take what out on her? The fact that she sent you a picture? Who am I supposed to take it out on? It was wrong. And you shouldn’t be encouraging her. She’s an eighteen-year-old tattletale.”

He chuckled. “Lina—”

“It’s not funny.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’m sorry.” His hands drifted down her arms. “You’re right. It’s none of Megan’s business, and I’ll talk to her. But first I’d like to talk about him. I don’t like him.”

“Your basing everything on the way he looked,” Lina said and wished she had met him herself. “Darcy certainly never raised any red flags with you.” Darcy was a friend of Katie’s who had spent hours at their house and, unbeknownst to them, introduced her to drugs.

“I spoke to him. He had an edge to him.”

“I just want her to be happy,” Lina said. “And she seems happy.”

“Yeah, well, I’m thinking about her long-term happiness.”

16

After some prodding from Diane, Lina spent much of the next few days primping for the wedding. “I’m going to help you find a dress that highlights that amazing figure of yours, and when you walk in on Phil’s arm you’ll be the most beautiful woman in the room.”