Izzy thought about Flora, red-faced and out of breath trying to keep up with her. Flora, trying not to look at all the photos of Becca that adorned the house. Flora, looking a little lost. “I don’t think it’s easy for her.” She felt a flash of guilt. “I’ve made it pretty tough. The harder she tries, the more I withdraw. I can’t help it. I just don’t want her around and there is no real reason for that.”

Aiden swatted a fly. “Your family changed shape, and you’re not ready for it to change shape again. I’d say that’s reason enough.”

“How do you always know exactly what to say?”

“I don’t. But in this case it’s obvious.”

“You don’t think I’m terrible?”

“I think you’re human. So what did you do to Flora? Put a frog in her bed?”

Izzy tried to smile. “Went out of my way to make her uncomfortable mostly. Baited her into doing stuff she doesn’t normally do. But it hasn’t worked. Nothing I do seems to shake her. I mean, it has to be hard but she just endures it, like she’s willing to take the punishment. Or maybe she just loves my dad or wants his money or something and is willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Why do you think she wants his money?”

“I don’t know.” She knew for a fact that Flora had insisted on paying for her own flight ticket because she’d been in the kitchen when she’d booked it. “Ignore me.”

“Maybe she’s a realist. If she’s hanging out with a ready-made family, she has to take the good with the bad. And maybe she’s just not used to being part of a family. It’s like—” he thought about it “—like learning to play with an orchestra when you’ve only ever played solo.”

“Why does she even care what I think of her? Why is she trying so hard? It’s not like I’m the one she’s dating.” The journey and the jet leg suddenly caught up with her and suddenly Izzy felt exhausted and emotional.

“Because if she’s going to be with your dad, she knows she has to get you to like her, too.”

“And I can’t do it. I don’t know why. And it’s not like I want my dad to be miserable. I want him to be happy. So why can’t I just be happy for him?”

“Honest answer?”

“I don’t know. Am I going to hate your honest answer?”