"So—"
"You will remain at school." His phone rings, and he excuses himself.
I take the time to clear the table.
Lyndall sort of helps. "I'm only here right now because I put my foot down and threw a tantrum. It was this or get kicked out of school for bad behavior. And he wants a good college for me, so..."
"Just don't rock the boat. You will be out of this soon enough."
She hoists up on the kitchen island and swings her feet, hitting the wine fridge each time. "When? When I'm eighty."
"Eighteen."
"I have friends that I want to see. But I have to be here, and he is only here now because you are. I want to have fun. My violin teacher has to come out here or to Long Island. I want to go to Manhattan?—"
"Get down. He will go apeshit."
She flicks her hair. "So? He wouldn't notice if I walked around whatever house he drags me to on my hands. He doesn't notice I'm unhappy. Worse, I doubt he cares."
"I'm sure he does." Somewhere.
"Please." She gives me a deadpan look.
I close the dishwasher drawer. "It's not for long. I promise."
"Too long. I wanted the penthouse he has in Manhattan."
Laughing, I shake my head. "Kid, you're fifteen."
"So?"
"So, we know it is a no. Fuck, I would say no."
"Asshole. Fine." She studies me, then leans forward. "Can I move in with you?"
Shit.
There is more than enough room, but it will be a cold day in hell when Dad agrees to that. But there has to be a compromise. Because if Dad is here for the foreseeable future, something might be going down, and it is no place for a teen.
"I will think about it. But you can come and stay with me on the weekend."
"But—"
"He will agree to that. The rest? We need to play carefully, and you know it."
"Fine." She pushes off the island. "I'm going to Facetime my friends."
When she is gone, I find my father in the study, still on the phone.
He motions for me to sit.
I get a drink and settle in as Dad talks.
When he hangs up, he starts talking business to me. I know the drill. I can pick out the words. Family tradition, my rightful place, responsibility.
Tuning out, I nod in the right places, pretending to listen, offering the answers that he wants without promising a thing.
When he pauses, I take the floor.
