to talk about." He glanced over to Shelby. "We have plenty of room for your things in the truck. Whenever you're ready, we'll take off."
Shelby felt frozen to her seat.
Gus looked concerned when she didn't respond, but Dana didn't even seem to notice. “Thanks, honey,” Dana said. “I’ll text you when we’re ready.”
After Gus left, Theo turned to Shelby. "Can I talk to you for a moment in private?"
Shelby followed him to the back hall where they were out of listening range. Scarlett trailed behind them and scampered toward her bed in Alice’s room. Lucky dog, Shelby thought.
"Do you want me to stay?" Theo asked. "Or would you prefer this time alone with your family? I'm just a few blocks away. You can call me if you need anything."
Shelby looked back toward the living room with dread. "I think it would be best if you left. I don't want my mother putting on an act in front of you, or me feeling like I can't say exactly what I mean. You're the most wonderful friend. Thank you for being here. I'll call you as soon as it's over."
At the front door, Theo turned and said, "Well, I'll be seeing you ladies." He smiled at Alice. "Thanks for the lunch. And you let me know if you need anything."
The three generations of women sat at the table alone, Dana staring at her ring like a child with a new toy. Her mother had barely asked Shelby anything about herself. Dana glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. Probably timing her visit, Shelby thought.
"So," Dana said to Shelby, "where is your suitcase? I thought we'd spend a few minutes chatting and then head out. Gus mapped out a bit of sightseeing on our way back before school starts, and then—"
"Stop, Mother," Shelby said. "I am not packed, and I'm not going with you. I told you that before you decided to come."
Dana swerved toward Alice. "Is this your doing?"
"Of course not," Alice said. "Shelby's old enough to make up her own mind. I'm here for her, whatever she decides."
"Yeah, right. You’ve both been plotting against me, haven’t you?”
Shelby bolted up. "It's not always about you, Mom. Just this once, it’s about me.” She took some deep breaths and moved over to a seat in the living room. Dana, her arms crossed, sat facing her. Alice took the couch.
"I don't understand," Dana said, her tone rising. "I told you about the house and everything. Why aren't you coming?"
"If you’d ever listen—"
"Stop," Alice said. "Arguing isn't going to fix anything. Let's talk calmly and see what decision is best for everyone."
Dana glared back at Alice, her face a pout.
Not a productive start, Shelby thought, trying to focus herself again. "You seem happy,” Shelby said to her mother. “But so am I, living here at Moonwater Lake."
"I’m sure you can be happy in Florida too," Dana said. “Maybe even better.”
Shelby’s head throbbed and she rubbed her temples. "You're not listening, Mother.” Any clear communication with her mother seemed impossible, but she tried again. “This is a better place for me for now. I have a good, stable, normal life for once. Real friends. My own business making my own money. And for your information, a boyfriend."
Dana’s eyes narrowed. "Oh, is that it? You want to stay for some boy?"
Shelby glared at her mother. If she could only hear herself. The room felt suddenly cold and Shelby shuddered.
Alice spoke up. "This is not just some boy. This is a wonderful young man who will be leaving for Stanford in a few weeks. So no, Shelby wants to stay because there's an excellent high school where she can complete her education and apply for scholarships to college.”
Dana looked at Alice and then back to Shelby. "An older boy. What's been going on here?"
It took everything in Shelby not to strangle her mother. With all the men her mother had been with, she had a lot of nerve. "The only thing that's been going on," said Shelby, "is somebody being kind to me and understanding. We really care about each other."
"Oh, I see, “Dana said. “And I don’t care? Is that it?” Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “What is it you actually want, then? And why did you wait until we got all the way here to tell me?"
Shelby steadied herself. There was no reasoning with her mother. She needed to simply state what she wanted. "I want you to sign over my guardianship to Grandma Alice until