“That means I’m an adult. I can start making decisions for myself. I want you to know that I have decided to move back to Wisconsin and finish school there. I also plan on going to college at UW–Green Bay.”

“Absolutely not!” Paula gets up so fast her chair falls over, hitting a cabinet behind her and knocking over a glass vase. “I’m not going to stand here—”

“Paula!” Grandma Amanda’s voice booms. “Sit down this instant.”

Paula collapses into her chair.

Grandma Amanda gives me a nod. “Go ahead, Ally.”

“You know about this, Mom?” Paula says. “And you come into my house and—”

“Paula.” It’s now Craig who scolds her with a raised voice. His demeanor is usually jovial. I’ve never heard him be so abrupt before. He reaches over the table to take her hand. “Your daughter has something to say, and you need to listen to her.”

Tears have begun to stream down Paula’s face.

“Yeah, Mom, hear her out,” Sarah seconds.

This is the first time I’ve truly felt like a unit. Craig, Sarah, and even Grandma Amanda understand where I’m coming from. Now I just need to convince Paula.

“I am so happy to discover this other family I didn’t know existed,” I start. “To spend time with my mom. I have a sister now. And a stepdad. And a grandma and cousins. It’s been great. But there’s this whole life I left behind, one I really like. I don’t want to abandon that life, but I can add to it. I want to add new memories of my family in Florida. I want to come down here as much as I can, but … if you demand that I stay here, you’re asking me to give up myself. I didn’t do anything wrong, just like none of you did anything wrong. You have to let me be me, let me make my own choices.”

My mind flashes back to one of the essay topics I had to tackle.

“When I started my college applications, I had to answer this question about a significant event in my life, and I had trouble doing it. Turns out this is a pretty significant moment in my life, but I’ve realized that life isn’t only about significant moments. It’s lived and changed by the tiny moments we experience every day. The person I am right now is because of those moments. And I won’t let one significant thing erase that.

“So please believe me that this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later. You have to trust me. We can even get my tickets for spring break right now. I’ll stay for the whole week.”

A disgusted groan escapes Paula’s throat. “A whole week? How lucky.”

“Paula.” Craig gives her a warning look.

“No, Craig!” she protests. “I’m allowed to be upset about this.”