The question was on pace. The inflection was right with just enough teenaged exasperation to suit it. But Carly was watching him more steadily than the weight of his answer should warrant. His opinion didn’t matter in this. Everyone knew that. She was well aware that in all things parenting, John was neither qualified nor particularly interested. He was a friend to Carly. Someone to joke around with and get rides from. He was her mother’s husband, not her father. Everyone was fine with that arrangement, and none more than John.

But Carly had removed herself to the far side of the island, and not by accident. That’s what the pointed look was all about. She’d left John and Donna on a level on purpose, with her in opposition.

He held her gaze and slid one symbolic half step toward Donna. “I don’t know, Carlzee. You sure it’s a good idea? Maybe you should take the day off.”

Carly’s mouth tightened down against a flash of a knowing smile. “Oh my God! You guys are impossible. I’m fi-i-i-i-ine.”

John fought his own smile and reached across to the fruit basket for a banana. Donna didn’t move away. It seemed like a good sign. He sent it back over the net one more time for effect. “Are you sure? It was a hell of a night. I don’t think anyone expects you to be there. We sure would understand.”

Whatever her mission, Carly was satisfied and itching to leave. “No, seriously, I’ve got to go. Damage control. I’ve already had ninety-one tags and messages and—” Her phone buzzed and twitched on the counter, and then again before she could pick it up. “Ninety-two, ninety-three . . . See? I gotta go. This is going to get out of control.” But she was smiling.

Donna shook her head at John. “It’s been nonstop.”

Carly swung her backpack onto her shoulder in full stride toward the door. “See ya! It’ll be fine.”

“What do you mean?” John asked Donna. “What’s been nonstop?”

“Mom!” Carly called from the foyer.

John let Donna lead, but they went to the front of the house together.

Carly had gotten all the way to the door. She turned from the narrow sidelight window alongside the stupid dead security panel, with its one glowing, lying green light. John pushed his tongue against his back teeth and looked away.

The high color of cleverness and fizzing excitement drained away from Carly’s face. Her mouth had gone loose, unsure.

“Mom, everybody’s down there by Ada’s block waiting for me. I’m going to make them late. But I don’t want to . . . by myself. Can you just . . .” Carly looked back out the window.