Immediately, she regretted the thought. She didn’t quit school and take care of her mom and sisters because she wanted her dad’s gratitude. She did it because it was the right thing to do.

But it was time to reclaim her own life.

She squelched that little voice in the back of her head. This was her life. She had chosen it, no one had forced it on her.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t still pissed. Of course her dad deserved a life, especially after what he had gone through with her mom, but it was well past time that he picked up the slack at home.

She left her room, intending to check on Brynn. In the hallway, she met Mags and Frances, the latter carrying a tray of food.

“I’m taking a nibble to your sister. I brought an extra cup because I thought you’d want to join her. Mr. Blake said to make sure you eat a sandwich since you barely touched your dinner. He was very adamant.”

Of course he was. “Thanks, Frances.”

Mags held up a champagne bottle and a glass. “I thought I’d join in too, dearest. Come along.” Holding the bottle aloft, she wiggled her ass down the hall, leaving Allie and Frances lagging behind.

Brynn’s room was in the same wing as Allie’s but around the corner. Painted a pretty shade of robin’s-egg blue, it was a little bit smaller than Allie’s room, with no sitting room attached.

Brynn sat on the bed with her knees drawn up, her arms tightly hugging them. She watched Mags with wide eyes.

“Hello, my dearest.” Mags patted Brynn’s cheek before kicking off her designer heels and lowering herself to the bed. “We’ve decided to keep you company. What fun.”

Brynn’s eyes skittered to Allie with a WTF look.

“Brynn, this is Mr. Blake’s mother, Mrs…” Allie stalled, unable to remember Mags’s last last name.

“Call me Mags, my little cherub.”

Frances poured tea and handed out sandwiches. “You poor lamb,” she said to Brynn. “Press nine on that phone if you need anything at all.” She whisked the tray off the dresser and was gone a moment later.

Mags sipped from her flute. “That woman is priceless. Now, what is wrong with you, my pet?”

Brynn opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and looked helplessly at Allie.

“Brynn just needs a little time to settle in, Mags,” Allie said.

Mags tsked. “Now, children, don’t try to hide the truth from me. I’ll just have to force Frances to tell me, and then she’ll feel guilty for being a tittle-tattle.”

With a sigh, Allie briefly explained her family’s situation and Monica’s recent departure with bad boy Brad.

“Allie, dearest, why didn’t you tell me all this?” Mags asked.

“I didn’t want to unload my problems onto you. Anyway, Brynn’s upset because my dad has started dating—”

“My guidance counselor, Ms. Castor.”

Mags put her arms around the girl’s shoulders. “So many changes,” she said.

In a move that surprised Allie, Brynn buried her head in the crook of Mags’s shoulder and cried. Trevor’s mother petted Brynn’s hair and murmured soothing sounds. After several minutes, Brynn finally pulled away, her face splotchy and damp. “What did Dad say? Was he mad that I left?”

Not wanting to hurt Brynn further by telling her the truth, Allie lied—seemed like she was doing a lot of that lately. “He was fine with your staying here for the night.”

Brynn looked relieved. “Thanks, Al.”

Picking up her champagne glass, Mags raised an eyebrow. “Now finish your tea, girls, and eat something.”

Brynn went for the cookie first. “What are these called?”

“Jammie Dodgers,” Allie said. “They’re Trevor’s favorite.”

***

The next morning after breakfast, Allie showed Brynn the garage. Simmons gave her the grand tour and Allie didn’t know if her sister was more impressed with the cars or the hot blond chauffeur. When he was through showing Brynn the classic roadster, he tossed Allie the keys to the Mercedes.

“So, what do you do for Mr. Blake?” Brynn asked Allie as she climbed into the car.

“Oh.” Allie stalled while she buckled her seat belt. “Answer letters, bring him tea.”

“Why can’t Arnold or Frances bring him tea?”

Allie swung the car around the circular drive. “They’re busy running the household.”

“Oh. He seems okay. I mean, it’s nice of him to let me stay and everything,” Brynn said. “Are you in love with him or something?”

“Of course not,” Allie snapped. “What would make you say that?” She quickly scanned her memory from last night. Had she done something that would give Brynn the impression that she and Trevor were involved? She came up blank. Facing forward, she pulled out onto the street.

“I don’t know. I just thought last night, when we were talking to him in that salon place, the two of you sort of seemed like a couple.”

Allie didn’t say anything else as she drove Brynn to school, but her heart was pounding. A couple? No, they weren’t a couple. She was temporary. This whole situation was just temporary.

She pulled up to the school and turned to her sister. “Good luck on your English test.”

Brynn grabbed her backpack off the floor. “It’s a biology test and thanks.”

“Right, sorry.” Allie had English on the brain.

Brynn stepped out of the car and slipped the pack on her shoulder before leaning her head back inside. “Are you going to pick me up after school?”

“I might be out with Mags, so maybe Simmons will have to pick you up?”

Brynn’s face turned almost purple. “’Kay.” She slammed the door and trotted into the building.

Oh no. Brynn had it bad for Simmons. Allie closed her eyes. She couldn’t worry about Brynn’s crush right now either. She needed to deal with her dad before he left for work.

She pulled out of the school lot and drove home. Without bothering to knock, Allie walked into the house and found her dad whistling to himself in the kitchen. His salt-and-pepper hair had been freshly cut, and his cheeks were smooth and stubble free for a change.

“Hey,” she said, placing her keys on the counter.

He stopped pouring coffee into a travel mug and set down the pot. “How’s Brynn?” He grinned at her.

“Seriously? Your middle daughter drops out of high school and moves in with her boyfriend. Your youngest daughter runs away, and you’re ‘how’s Brynn’?” She hadn’t meant to start with accusations, but damn it, she was pissed. He acted like he didn’t have a care in the world.

The smile slid off his face. “I didn’t know she was gone because she sneaked out. And she’s going to be punished for it when she gets home.”

“Why? You never punished Monica. Besides, she doesn’t need punishment, she needs your attention.”

He picked up the carafe of coffee and continued to fill his mug. “I made mistakes with Mon, and I don’t plan to repeat them with Brynn. Besides, Monica’s an adult. Karen thinks we should give Brynn some space right now, but she needs boundaries and consequences.”

“Karen thinks she needs boundaries? Brynn’s guidance counselor?” She crossed her arms, felt her muscles lock in place. “Well, Karen can fuck off.”

Brian moved toward her, his lips pressed into a thin line, his finger in Allie’s face. “You don’t talk to me like that. This is my house and I’m still your dad. My private life isn’t any of your business.” He dropped his hand, took a deep breath, and stepped back.

His house? It wouldn’t be his house if she hadn’t agreed to sleep with Trevor. And it wasn’t her business? Everything that happened to this family was her concern. Pain spread through her chest—but that pain quickly turned to anger. “No, Dad, it became my business when I moved back home and started taking care of Mom, the girls, the house.” She uncrossed her arms and waved them around the kitchen. “I’ve been holding this family together because you’ve been too wrecked to do it. I came over yesterday—you couldn’t even take out the goddamned trash. Suddenly, you’re talking about boundaries?” She shoved a finger into her chest. “I’ve been picking up the slack around here, not you. I’ve been making all the tough choices. So, yeah, I think I’m entitled to have an opinion. And dating Brynn’s guidance counselor when Mom just died? Not cool.”