Page 88 of Pin-up Girl

She’d stopped listening to me. But that implied she had ever started.

“Or what?” I asked. “If I don’t stop, you’ll disown me? Cut me off from the family money? Talk bad about me, or just pretend I don’t exist with the rest of the family?”

“I’m your family. You owe me respect.”

Oh, I so did not. “You’re my detractor. I want to love you. I want most everyone to live how they want and I hope it makes them happy. For some reason you want to judge the fucking world, and you put me at the front of the line. Threaten me with something that matters or get the fuck out of my store.”

Grandma scowled. “We’re done. Sylvie, let’s go call…” She trailed off with a frown and fixed her glare on me.

Sylvie shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re talking like that to Grandma.”

“I can’t believe you’re considering calling him for even a moment.” Was I in Mirror Mirror world?

“Maybe if you understood why, you wouldn’t be?—”

“Go ahead. Finish the thought, Sylvie,” I said.

Sylvie fell into step with Grandma. “Let’s go, Grandma.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I was distracted the rest of the day. Worrying about Sylvie. Worrying about Peter coming back. Did I push her away? Did I make things worse?

I got a series of texts from Sylvie that evening.

Sylvie: I didn’t call Peter back.

Sylvie: Grandma is furious at you.

Sylvie: I’m staying at the motel.

Sylvie: Thank you.

Despite the terse notes, I felt better about her than I had in days, but I wasn’t naive enough to believe this was a solution.

24

clint

It took some negotiation with Regina to be able to pick Dee up Saturday morning, rather than Sunday. I didn’t mention that I wanted her here tomorrow for a picnic a bunch of us were having—it would be a good chance to give Dee some fun—but I did point out it would be better for her to have a day at home, settled, before school started.

As Dee and I started the drive home, several pieces of luggage secured in the back seat, she cranked the radio.

I turned it back down. There were times when blaring was fine, but not like that, and not with her in the car.

“It’s okay,” she said. “If you want, you can sing along at the top of your lungs and be embarrassing.”

“I don’t. Not right now.”

“Hmm. Maybe you’re sick.”

I glanced sideways at her. Was that sarcasm or a new joke she’d picked up? Her tone and flat posture didn’t make me think it was either.

“Mom had a moving truck at the old house last night.” Dee’s voice was tight.

I wasn’t sure about the reference. “The old house?”

“Mhm. The one I don’t live in anymore. She had them pack up all my stuff.”

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