Whitney hated the way she emphasized the word “always.” Whitney worked from home to be near Amelia. It wasn’t a curse. It was a blessing. Amelia would see that one day. She’d appreciate all the sacrifices Whitney made for her. To give her a good life.

To keep her safe.

Instead of saying all of this, she added, “You have swim team.”

“Seriously?” Amelia scowled, placing a hand on her hip. “I joined swim team because of you.”

Whitney frowned. “You love swim team.”

“No,” she said emphatically. “I love swimming. Same as you love running. You’re the one who wanted me to compete. You’re the one who signed me up for the team when I was little, and then every year after that without even consulting me.” Amelia placed a hand on her hip. “I overheard you talking to Natalie about it once. Said it kept me out of trouble.”

Whitney opened her mouth to defend herself, but couldn’t come up with anything. She felt blindsided. This was the first she was hearing of any of this. She’d always thought Amelia loved being on swim team.

“Just admit it,” Amelia said. “You don’t want me to have anything in my life that doesn’t include you,” Amelia said, her voice rising. “It’s why you won’t let me date.”

Whitney sucked in a breath. A cold chill worked its way up her back. “So, that’s what this is about. Dating?”

“No,” Amelia said quickly. “It’s about you controlling my whole entire life, and I’m sick of it.”

Whitney thought about the late-night phone call. “Have you been talking to a boy?”

“Oh, my God, you have a one-track mind,” Amelia said, clearly deflecting.

“Answer the question,” Whitney demanded.

Staring hard at the ground, Amelia kept her lips pressed together.

“I can go through your phone, you know,” she declared, unsure if that was true.

Amelia’s head popped up, and she opened her mouth as if she planned to respond, but then she closed it.

After a few seconds, she finally said, “Fine. Yeah. I’ve been talking to a boy.”

“One you know in real life, right? Not someone you met online, because you know there are people out there called catfishes and they—”

“Oh, my God, Mom. Yes, I know all about that. I’m not stupid. He’s someone I know in real life,” she said. “He’s really nice...and um...” She bit her lower lip. “He wants to take me out.”

“Like on a date?”

Nodding, Amelia’s cheeks turned pink.

“I don’t know.”

“What if we had him over for dinner? He’s totally cool with meeting you,” Amelia’s words got faster, more desperate.

It made Whitney uncomfortable. “I don’t think so. Let’s table this for now.”

Amelia’s face fell. “But I’m sixteen now. Wasn’t that the rule?”