“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.”

Chapter 16

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.”

“I’m forty years old. Those days are over.”

“Oh, no they’re not. You’ll even outshine the bride. I’ve made us an appointment at Andre’s spa all day Thursday. You’re going to feel like a twenty-five-year-old when he’s done with you.”