Collette began fussing in Mac’s arms, reaching for me. I tickled her bare feet, then lowered her to the floor where she flopped on her chubby legs. She gripped my index finger as she raised herself back to standing, one arm resting on the chair’s edge for support.

“Well, I declare, is she walking already?”

“Close to it. She’s taken a few steps. Haven’t you, my sweetie-poo-pumpkin-head?” I kissed her round cheek as drool dribbled down her chin.

Collette released her grip and fell in a heap on the floor, arms and legs in vigorous motion as she scooted away under the table. I turned my attention back to Mackenzie, whose face was strangely ashen.

“You okay? You don’t look so good.”

“No, I’m not okay.” Her tone was solemn. Mackenzie sipped her coffee, then looked at me like she had something to say. “I need to tell you something,” she began, her voice cracking. She placed her mug on the table. Her eyes watered, and fear filled me.

“You can tell me anything. What’s going on?”

“It’s about Aria . . . and Ryan.” She stopped, exhaled, then continued. “Something happened on Sunday night.”

Aria and Ryan had been friends since birth. They were fixtures in each other’s lives because of my friendship with Mac. Like brother and sister. “Something like what?”

Mackenzie glanced away, tears clinging to her eyelashes. Her gaze seemed glued to a simple square vase of fresh-cut hyacinths. She couldn’t even look at me.

“Mackenzie, please talk to me. You’re worrying me.” I teetered between anger and terror.

Turning back to me, the muscles of her jaw tensed. “I caught them having sex in the basement.”

Like a trapdoor beneath me swung open, I plummeted. “What?” I yelled. “Are you serious?”

She nodded wordlessly.

I didn’t know what to say. I knew Ryan had become sexually active about a year ago when I found condoms in his underwear drawer. He had just turned seventeen, after all, and I figured it would happen sooner or later, no matter how much I preferred he wait. It was a short conversation, one that Grant took the lead on, that went something like this:

Grant: Your mom found condoms in your room, Ryan. Are you thinking about having sex, son?

Ryan: You don’t need to have this conversation with me, Dad. I’m already having sex. And yes, I’m being safe.

Grant: As long as you’re being careful, we don’t need to talk about it unless you want to.

Ryan: I will never want that conversation, Dad.

Grant: All righty.

Ryan: Okay.

Grant: Want to watch the Steelers game with me?

Ryan: If it will make this less awkward, yes.