I swallow the lump that’s suddenly appeared in my throat and nod. Dad squeezes my hand comfortingly. “There’s one more thing that’s not in this,” I say. I take a deep breath, and then I tell them about Brittany. Mom and Dad listen to me silently, the lines on their faces growing slowly deeper.

Mom gets to her feet once I’m done. “I’m proud of you, Shay,” she says. She shakes her head. “Those poor witches.”

“Don’t tell anybody about Brittany,” I say, looking between her and Dad.

Dad runs a hand over his bald head, his expression troubled. “We need to tell somebody.”

“But not the school,” Mom says. Dad looks like he’s about to argue, but she silences him with a look. “So do you want me to make a fuss at this scholarship shindig tonight? Because I will do that,” she says, turning her attention back to me.

“I actually was planning to do it myself,” I say, and I explain, briefly, what I have in mind for that evening.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Dad says once I’ve finished.

“It’s tamer than what I was thinking,” Mom says.

“Denise. What?” Dad gives her a quelling look.

Mom shrugs. “I’m just saying. Look, I know I have a tendency to go in hot to things when it comes to Shay”— Dad scoffs, correctly, at that colossal understatement—“but I’m learning. And I know she can do things by herself. She doesn’t have to.” She stares at me pointedly. “But she can. So I say we let her go ahead with how she wants to do this. We’ll be there the whole time.”

A few moments pass, and then he nods reluctantly. “Fine. I just hope this Brockton man doesn’t come and talk to me beforehand.” He cracks his knuckles. “I’m a patient man, but not that patient.”

And with that mildly concerning threat in the air, he nods and heads off to finish getting dressed. Mom pulls me into a long hug, then goes back to making dinner.

Soon after dinner I’m bundled into the car, and Dad drives us to school, where the scholarship ceremony is being held. In the front seat, Mom keeps shaking her head and muttering vaguely threatening sounding things to herself. I text Ana next to my leg.

SHAY: my parents are PISSED

SHAY: I’m worried for the people who have to deal with them.

ANA: yikes. so, not a good time to introduce myself?

SHAY: lol probably subpar timing