The teapot whistles. Irene gets up, turns off the heat, takes the pot from the burner. “I had to drop her off at Mrs. Varnick’s, so I decided I’d come see you.”

“Lucky me,” I say.

I know she heard me, but she pretends she didn’t. She opens the cabinet where we keep plates, closes it, opens the next one and takes out two mugs. They’re also Margo hand-me-downs, chipped and cracked from too much use at the diner. Irene rinses them with the jug water, touches the chips with her finger like it might repair them. She starts fishing around in drawers. I’m pretty sure this isn’t about the ring. I don’t think she could keep a poker face this long.

“Oh! You know, I think we’re out of tea,” I say like the thought just occurred to me. I try not to smile, but I feel my mouth going there anyway.

I watch her shoulders creep to her neck. She slams the drawer closed. “Damnit, April! I’m trying. I am trying here.” She sits across from me in the booth and drops her head in her hands. “I don’t know what I did to you,” she whispers, poking at the splinters of my guitar like she’s playing pick-up sticks. Move one sliver without the others collapsing. “I love your father. How does that hurt you? I don’t get it.”

“Because you’re an idiot,” I say.

“Not fair, April.” Her voice breaks. I can see tears well up. “Not fair!”

“Is it fair that you took him? That you take all of it? I get crap and you get a new car? What’s fair about that, Irene?” I get up and walk out, slamming the door behind me. I pace in the driveway, walk around the car and kick the tires, feeling the sting in my toes.

Irene comes out. She’s standing on the steps, just like my dad when he smashed my guitar, but she’s crying, mascara running down her cheeks like dirty slug trails. “I just wanted us to get along. I thought—I just thought since I’m pregnant with your little brother or sister you might decide you give a shit. You might try to be my family too.”

The jumper cables hit my heart again. “Yeah, that’s what my dad needs. Another kid.” I stand between her and the car so she can’t get away yet. “Fucking brilliant! Especially since he does such a good job taking care of the one he already has. Smart, Irene. Good one.”