I shifted uncomfortably on my bed, watching the Skype screen.
Finally, I said quietly, “Well?”
I’d just told them about Jake and the police academy in one big rambling speech.
“I don’t even…” Mom shook her head, dazed. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
My dad stood abruptly so I lost sight of most of him. He disappeared off screen and I stared after him in disappointment.
Mom looked in his direction and from the way she swallowed, I knew my dad was all kinds of mad.
“Mom?” I whispered.
Before she could say anything, Dad was back on screen, slamming down on his chair and glowering at me. And Jim Redford gave good glower. “Are you crazy?”
“Jim,” Mom admonished.
“I’m sorry I had to tell you like this,” I hurried to explain, “but I need you to know what’s going on with me. I need you to support me.”
“Support you?” Mom narrowed her eyes. “Support you? All we ever do is support you and up until now, you’ve never given us reason to doubt your decisions. But getting—”
“Back together with that boy is a mistake,” Dad finished for her, his voice rising in temper. “And the police thing? I can’t believe that one hasn’t got to do with the other. A few months ago you were settled about going to law school. He comes back in the picture and suddenly you want to be a damn homicide detective all over again. It’s morbid, Charley!”
Despite the severity of the situation, I struggled not to laugh. He didn’t mean it to be funny, but it kind of was. Especially considering I hadn’t mentioned anything about becoming a homicide detective. Clearly, our discussion about it when I was sixteen had never left my father. And I knew it was purely because he worried about me.
“Dad, Jake has nothing to do with my decision to apply to the academy. I’ve always wanted to be a cop—I just didn’t want to disappoint you and Mom.”
“Then don’t,” he grumbled.
I snorted. “Dad, I’ve got to do what makes me happy. That’s all you and Mom have ever said I should do.”
“Since when,” Mom snapped, “does happiness and mortal danger go hand in hand?”
I released a beleaguered sigh. “Since when did becoming a police officer become such a big deal? Rick is one.”
“Rick’s not my daughter,” Dad growled. “I’ve done everything in my power to keep my kids safe, but you seem intent on thwarting me.”
“Thwarting?” I teased.
Mom gave me a look. “This is not the time to be a smart-ass.”
“When you were five, I caught you trying to turn a coyote into a pet,” Dad reminded me.
“He was wounded,” I argued. “He needed my help.”
“He was a coyote!”
“Jim.” Mom rubbed his shoulder. “Chill.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Chill?”
They glared at me.
“Dad—”
“When you were ten, you almost drowned in the creek trying to save Lacey—”
“Technically, Lacey almost drowned.”