“Is that how it feels?” Lucy let out another long breath and put another elastic in her hair, which was clearly already tied up with at least two elastics.

“Yeah,” I said. “It feels pretty horrible.”

“I don’t know how to make this better,” Lucy admitted. “I really don’t, Anne. It’s my job and I don’t. And every night I go to bed and I try to think of how to make it better, and every night I can’t think of anything. So I just lie there and worry.”

“I mean you did most of it already,” I said. “No matter what some of Greenville says, and a lot of what it says sucks, I know you and Millie love me for who I am. You tell me that all the time. Like a million times. You taught me how to disco and let me run with that. I am one hundred percent me and I know you and Millie are cool with that. I think there’s lots of kids who don’t get that from their families. You know, here in Greenville even.” I smiled. “So, good job.”

“Hey.” Lucy wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “I’m supposed to be giving you the speech.” Her voice was croaky.

“You gave me all the speeches,” I said. “So, so, so, so many really great and let’s say well-thought-out speeches. And you apologized for not believing me when I told you I didn’t set Tanner’s house on fire. So we’re good. And please don’t stop what you’re doing. I won’t let you fail, Mom. I mean, we’re not failing. You’re not. So go to sleep.”

“Thanks, kid.”

“And I”—I took a deep breath—“I should have told you, you know, what was happening. So I’ll do that now.”

“Yes.” Lucy looked deep into my soul. “You have to tell us, Anne, we won’t break if you tell us something feels broken. Okay?”

“Okay.”

The front door opened with a dramatic slam as Monty bounded in the room the way golden retrievers do, like there’s a party going that they almost missed.

“Okay, that’s good.” Lucy bit her lip. “We love you so much, kiddo.”

“Damn right we love you, kid. We love you with all our bones and muscles,” Millie crowed.

And then Monty jumped on me, and I crashed to the floor and bonked my head on the side table.

Small detour to big family hug, but we got there.

Crying is good for you, did I tell you that? It’s like the body’s filtration system. So it’s probably good we spent the rest of the evening watching a live-action Cinderella and crying.

Who doesn’t—if not love—then at least appreciate, a mean stepmother?

(Relax! Not me! Anymore! Geez.)