“Apparently,” she agreed. “I put in a box of that tea you like.”

“Not just a saint, but also a goddess,” he said.

Kate sighed. “I’m enjoying this so much,” she muttered. “Please let it be over soon.”

“Kate?” My dad was looking at her. Remember how he and Kate used to joke around? And how they have the same sense of humor and he always said she had her own style and voice, which was rare for a girl her age? I think he was trying to be positive about how she is, which is kind of…well, unpleasant and not quite normal or whatever. And remember he taught her poker even though mom said no cards and no gambling until we’re twenty-one? Remember how we were jealous, at least I was, especially since we were the ones living by the Lucky Life Rules, and Kate said they were a gambling version of toxic positivity, whatever that is?

“Yes, Father,” said Kate.

“You seem pretty angry.”

“You think?” she said.

“Is there something you’d like to say?” he asked.

Kate’s eyes were all wet and she was sort of vibrating, like someone had given her an electric shock. “How could you?” she said.

My dad looked down, and my mom put her hand over her mouth.

“I read about what you did to Missy Steph—”

“Can I be excused?” I said. I needed to use the bathroom. And I didn’t want to hear about how Kate is angry again or about the movie star who ruined our lives.

“No!” said Kate. “You can stay here and listen.”

“If he needs to go to the bathroom,” said my mom.

“Kate, you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the media,” said my dad. “The center has offered to get us a counselor to discuss all this. To help us get through this rough patch. But I said no. We can handle this alone. As a family.”

“Will the counselor also make excuses for you?” said Kate.

“I really have to go,” I said. I actually did. The conversation was upsetting my stomach. I know you get it because of your thing with dairy.

“If twerp gets to leave, so do I,” said Kate. “This sucks.”

“Kate, you have to understand that I’m doing what I need to do for my health,” said my dad.

She made a kind of screeching noise, like a bird whose egg just got stolen by a rat. “Your health?” said Kate. “Your reputation, more like. What about the wome—”

“Oh god,” said my mom. “I don’t think I can do this. Jeremy, you and I need to discuss this alone. Let’s leave the kids out of it for now.” She was crying. It was awful. Almost as bad as our family meeting.

“So you’re willing to speak to me?” asked my dad, and he was completely breaking the rule about never showing what you want.