Dad hadn’t been much of a conversationalist but spending time with the McKinnons had given her all the conversation—and hugs and I-love-yous—that she’d needed.

“Earth to Mom?”

Zoey flinched. “What?”

“I’ve been talking, but you’re in a fog. The magic beans aren’t doing their thing yet, huh?”

“Sorry. I guess I am a bit hazy this morning.” That extra glass of whiskey may not have been such a great idea last night. “What were you saying?”

“I was saying I need to be in the detention room by eight o’clock. I can’t be late.”

Zoey glanced at her watch and swore. “Okay, we’re outta here in five minutes.” She drained her coffee and stood. “What are you going to do all day?”

“We have to do school-related stuff, so I’m going to catch up on homework, read a few chapters in my history textbook and work on my term paper for English.”

Zoey nodded and turned away, heading to her bedroom to do something with her hair. But she stopped in the doorway, turning slowly.

“What do you mean by ‘catch up on homework’? Are you behind on homework?”

“Out of my whole list, those words are the only ones you heard, huh?”

“That is not an answer.”

Hazel’s eyes rolled skyward. “I didn’t do last night’s homework because I knew I’d be able to do it today. That’s what I meant. Okay, Momster?” Not Zoey’s favorite nickname, but she was learning to choose her battles. Hazel stood. “If I’m late, they’ll give me another day of suspension.”

Zoey hurried up to her bedroom to grab a sweatshirt from the stack on her dresser. She checked to make sure it didn’t say anything inappropriate, in case Principal Sheffield wanted to talk to her. She was safe—it was from The Spot Diner in town. It was a gift from her friend Evie, who had given it to her after Zoey and Chris split up. Evie had jokingly referred to it as a prize for the most tears shed into coffee cups that month.

Chris hadn’t been happy when Zoey called him last night about Hazel’s suspension. He was worried Hazel was getting too sassy for her own good, but Zoey reminded him that the school counselor had warned them that it was natural for children her age to “act out” a bit after a divorce. Hazel had to figure out her place in the new dynamic. Having the divorce happen just as Hazel entered puberty made it feel as though her daughter had gone from Barbie dolls to bras overnight.