Lily had worried about how things would work with Mack in the house, but it looked like she’d fretted for nothing. He was agreeable to a really good financial arrangement, and he liked to cook. She couldn’t ask for anything more out of a roommate—unless he also liked to wake up grumpy and belligerent kids.

While the sausage cooked and Mack flipped pancakes, Lily set the table for four. She waited until breakfast was cooked before she went to get the kids. Dreading even talking to Holly, she decided to rap on Braden’s door first. He threw it open and sniffed the air.

“I smell food.” He ran down the stairs in a blur.

She crossed the hall and knocked on Holly’s door, but there was no answer. She cracked the door open and saw that her daughter’s bed had been slept in, but she was gone. Lily’s heart rose up in her throat, and her chest tightened.

“What are you doin’?” Holly asked right behind her. “Already inspecting my stuff to be sure I didn’t sneak any pot in with my things?”

Lily turned around. “No, smarty-pants, I came to call you to breakfast. We’ll be having three meals a day around the table from now on.”

Holly frowned and unwound the towel from her wet hair. “I haven’t even got my makeup on yet.”

“Breakfast first, then makeup and getting dressed for Sunday school and church.” Lily put her hands on Holly’s shoulders and turned her toward the stairs. “We’re having pancakes.”

Holly set her heels and shrugged off her mother’s hands. “I’ll bring mine up to my room after I get my makeup on, and I’m not going to church or Sunday school.”

“Joining the rest of us around the table was not a request. Neither was church.” Lily pointed to the stairs. “If you aren’t sitting in your place in three minutes, I’ll be taking all of your makeup away for a week. Your choice on that matter. But you don’t have a choice about church. We will be going as a family every week. I’d hate for you to have to show up your first two times without a drop of lipstick or eye shadow on.”

Holly threw the towel at the bathroom door and stomped into her room.

“Towels go in the basket in the utility room, not on the floor,” Lily said as she started down the stairs.

“What happens if I don’t pick it up?” Holly called out. “Will you lock me in my room and give me nothing but bread and water?”

“Maybe water, but don’t push your luck about bread. You’ve got three minutes, starting right now.” Lily didn’t remember being so sassy at Holly’s age. She thought about Ophelia again and wondered if Henry ever got over that rebellious stage.