Sam put her arm around Tracy and held her while she shuddered with sobs.

“She’s my baby, but when I look at her, all I see is this person I don’t even know. And God help me, I’m not sure I even love her anymore.”

“Sure you do. You don’t like her very much right now, but you’ll always love her.”

“She doesn’t make it easy. I knew the teenage years would be tough, but this is something else altogether.”

Sam had seen her niece in action enough times lately to appreciate some of what Tracy was dealing with.

“What about a shrink?”

“She’s been seeing one for a year, and we’ve tried family therapy too, but now she refuses to go unless we let her see her friends. So we’re at another standoff over that.”

“Have you thought about sending her to boarding school?” Sam asked, only half joking.

“More often than I’d care to admit. I’ve even looked into it a little. I found the perfect program outside of Richmond. They run the place like a military academy, but it’s not actually military. It’s just what she needs.”

“Do it, Trace. She might hate you now, but someday she’ll see that you saved her life by sending her there.”

“I’d do it in a minute, but it’s twenty grand a year. We can’t swing that.”

“I can. Let me pay for it.”

“No way, Sam. I could never let you do that.”

“Why not? After Peter and I split and Dad got hurt, I lived there rent-free for two years. Nick won’t let me pay for much of anything around here. My check goes in the bank and a lot of weeks I barely touch it because I’m too busy working to do much of anything. I’ve got the money. Let me help you the way you would help me if the shoe were on the other foot. Please, Trace. After all you do for me, this is the least I can do for you.”

“I didn’t come here hoping you would bail me out.”

“To quote Ethan, ‘fuck off.’”

That made Tracy snort with laughter that was quickly replaced by more tears. “It’s too much. I can’t let you do that.”

Sam gripped her sister’s hand. “Listen to me—who loves your kids more than you and Mike do?”

“Probably only you,” Tracy said begrudgingly.

“And who has always loved Mike almost as much as you do?”

“You,” Tracy whispered.

“I love all of you as much as I love anyone. If I can’t help you, who can I help? You do so much for me. Please let me do this for you.”

“If I let you do this, she’ll hate you as much as she hates me. She knows we can’t afford something like this.”