Carol stared at me.

Then she laughed.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t possibly mean that.”

“I do.”

She shook her head.

“This is unbelievable. You’re going to punish your entire family because I made one comment?”

I felt Lily’s warm cheek against my neck.

“No,” I said. “I’m making a decision about what kind of environment my daughter will grow up in.”

My mother rolled her eyes.

“You’re being dramatic, just like always.”

I nodded slowly.

“Maybe that’s what you need to believe.”

Then I turned toward the door.

Evan