For a brief moment, I close my eyes. I need to own this. “You’re right. I could have, but I didn’t. I chose not to tell you about the interview because I thought you wouldn’t allow it.”

Mom breaks her own rule and sits on the guest bed. “God Almighty. This is a disaster, Cade.” She covers her face with her palms, moans into them. When she looks at me, her cheeks are covered with tears. “For one second, did you think about how this could impact this family? We needed Mrs. Stoke’s business, Cade. You know that.”

I slide to the floor, fighting back my own tears. Not once did it occur to me that we’d pay this kind of price. “I know. You’re right. But we had to do this. We had to.”

“Start from the beginning. I want to hear every detail and later you’ll explain to your dad.”

It takes a half hour to tell the story and answer all of her questions. I watch her carefully. The hurt and betrayal I’m responsible for morphs to shock, frustration, and disgust aimed not at me, but at Mr. Bartley and Principal McNeil. Mom seems surprised and impressed by our actions, but it’s hard to be certain because she doesn’t say so. When I finally finish, I say, “That’s it. I’ve told you everything.”

I brace myself. Mom gets up and joins me on the floor. She picks up my hand and threads her fingers with mine. A tear trickles down her face, sending a spear of fear into my heart. She brushes the tear away with her free hand. “Losing her business hurts, Cade. But I’m proud of you and Logan.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

More and more tears stream down Mom’s cheeks. I get up and grab the box of tissues from the bathroom and bring it over to her. She wipes her eyes, blows her nose, then says, “I’m sorry.” I’m not sure why she’s apologizing. She has nothing to apologize for.

“You’re right. If you had told us earlier, I don’t know how we would have advised you. That’s the truth.” She pauses. “I am fairly certain I wouldn’t have had the courage to do what you and Logan did. I would have done the assignment and moved on, even if I didn’t like it.”

Mom’s gaze is fierce, determined, stubborn. I’ve experienced this look enough times to know that whatever she says next is nonnegotiable. I brace myself.