Her shoulder blades trembled. “I don’t believe that.”

“Natalie!” Amelia snapped.

“Don’t pretend that it’s any kind of favor to me.” Natalie stood and backed away from us.

“Stop it,” Amelia said to Natalie. “I apologize for Natalie’s behavior.” Amelia bowed her head. “You can’t know what a huge gift you’re giving us.”

“I want to be in a different family,” Natalie said.

Fritz held both hands up. “Enough.”

“Last week, Mom slapped me,” Natalie said loudly.

“Go to your room!” Amelia said.

Natalie ran to the stairs. We listened to the sound of her feet climbing two flights of stairs.

“Did you hit her?” Fritz said quietly.

“How dare you?” Amelia’s fury filled the room like smoke.

“I just don’t understand.…” he said.

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Everyone’s nerves are frayed,” I said. “It’s so hard on all of you. Is it OK with you if I talk to her?” I looked at each of them, one at a time, waiting for a response. I took their silence as acquiescence.

Natalie’s door was ajar. I knocked softly.

“Come in.” She was lying on her bed, on top of the purple unicorn comforter.

I closed the door behind me.

“I hate this house,” Natalie said. “I want to live someplace else.” She lifted her legs up in the air, then alternated kicking them one at a time. “My mom didn’t actually slap me.”

“Of course she didn’t.” I was relieved, but at the same time I experienced a slight letdown. I wanted Natalie to need me. I wanted to be essential.

“My mom just wants a baby.” She rolled over onto her side so she could see me.

“I know.”

“She wants a baby so much more than she wants me. It’s ridiculous.” She made her mouth into a small O and blew out a tunnel of air. “I’m not that interesting.”

“Natalie…”

She sat up on her bed and hugged her knees into her chest. “She says she’s the only one in the family who carries her weight.”

“You’re a child.”

“She has to take care of everything.” She removed her bracelet. “Dad doesn’t work as hard as she does.” She pulled both ends of the elastic out, then let them snap back in. “My mom says she’s drowning.” She snapped the bracelet again. “She wishes I were more helpful.”

“Your mom is feeling bad lately, but it has absolutely nothing to do with you.” I studied the framed photograph of Natalie and her father on her desk. He was pushing her on a swing at a playground.

“I’m not making her happy.” She snapped the bracelet again and this time I was sure it would break. “She probably thought that I would at first.”