Angela cleared her throat, studying her daughter. She copped an attitude more often than not lately, but she’d never done anything truly rebellious. Still, the thought of her hanging out with a boy one-on-one . . . “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” Kylee’s lips twisted into an ugly frown.
“You’re too young to date.” Angela hated how strict she sounded. But she didn’t know how this mom-of-a-teenager thing was supposed to go. Her mom had died when she was young, and Aunt Deborah had worked eighty-hour weeks, leaving Angela to her own devices much of the time.
“Liam is just a friend, Mom.” Even so, Kylee’s cheeks grew pink.
“Then someday I’d love to have him over for dinner so I can get to know him better.” That was a good compromise, wasn’t it?
Her daughter’s face brightened as she poured the dressing over the salad. It fell from the package in ribbons. “How about tomorrow? We can just hang out here instead.”
“I have to work late tomorrow night, honey. Remember? This promotion is a good thing, but there’s a lot to learn.”
“So, basically I’m stuck at Grandma’s after practice. Again.” Her daughter jabbed the salad with a large spoon, mixing the contents together. “Dad would let me go.”
“Watch your tone.” Gripping the counter with both hands, Angela exhaled. Hard. “Who knows what your father would have done? He’s not here to tell us, is he?” Her words boomeranged and smacked her in the face.
Oh no. The rage had just slipped out, not meant for any ears but her own.
Her daughter’s face crumpled.
“I’m sorry, Kylee. I didn’t . . .” Angela rubbed her forehead. Tears should have been stinging her eyes. But they weren’t.
They hadn’t fallen at all since the moment she’d learned Wes wouldn’t be coming home.
“I hate you.” The words hissed from her daughter’s lips as she tossed the spoon into the bowl and fled from the room.
Wonderful. The “perfect” day, ruined. Sounded about right.
Just then the doorbell rang. Lovely timing.
Angela walked down the hallway, glanced through the peephole, and opened the door. “Hey, Eva. Come on in.”
Her sister-in-law was a knockout in a yellow-and-gray striped romper with short bell sleeves. “Thanks for having me over, Angela.” On her arm she clutched an oversized handbag that probably cost more than Angela made in a month.
Eva leaned in for a hug at the same moment Angela turned to walk back toward the kitchen. Angela stopped midturn and tossed an awkward one-armed squeeze across Eva’s shoulders, releasing her quickly.
“Sherry isn’t here yet, but the kids are around somewhere.”
Angela and Eva hardly ever had occasion to be all alone. The only things they really had in common were that they’d been married to brothers, that they’d lost those brothers in the same awful way, and that they both cared for their mother-in-law. Between the two of them, they always made sure Sherry had somewhere to spend every holiday—thus a Labor Day BBQ at Angela’s today.
As they passed by the den, Lilly’s squeals deafened Angela.
“Aunt Eva!” Her youngest raced from the room and threw her arms around Eva’s legs.
“Lil!” Eva bent in half to hug her niece, long hair falling forward in luscious waves.
Lilly untangled herself. “Are you still gonna teach me how to draw fairy princesses today?”
“Uh, yeah. Obviously. Fairy princesses are my favorite.”
“Mine too. And I told Alicia Bluth that I’d come back from summer break knowing how to draw them better than she does, so we might have to practice all day.”
“I’m here until your mom kicks me out. Alicia Bluth will wish she’d never messed with you.”
Lilly grinned. “Oh, I’m gonna tell Kylee you’re here!” She skipped down the hallway.
Eva peered into the den. “Zach Attack! How’s it going, dude?”
Angela watched from the doorway as Eva approached her son, who sat engrossed in the TV show. But as soon as Eva got close, he flipped off the television and grinned at his aunt. “Want to hear about centipedes, Aunt Eva?”
Eva’s laugh trickled through the air like a graceful melody. She plopped down on the couch. “Who wouldn’t, Zacharoo?”
“I’ll get my new library book.” He leapt up and raced from the room.
“Bud, make sure your room is clean before Grandma gets here. Tell Lilly the same, please.”
Groans followed Angela’s request.
Angela sank onto the opposite end of the couch, allowing an audible sigh of relief to escape. It felt good to sit.
“Is there anything I can do to help with lunch?” Eva turned her knees toward Angela and crossed