Everything stacks.
Sound on sound on sound.
My brain tries to catch it all at once but it can’t. It fails.
“Turn it down,” I say, not even sure who I’m saying it to.
Liam’s already moving, grabbing the remote. “Got it, got it?—”
The volume drops. Better.
My phone buzzes again. This time I pull it out, and give it a quick glance.
Vivian.
Emma.
Vivian.
Vivian.
My chest tightens. I look up, toward the door. I need to open the texts, check the voicemails. I don’t want to miss something.
I’m in the middle of forming a quick escape plan when the door opens. There’s a subtle change in energy that announces “adult,” pulling my attention to who has entered our room.
When I look over, I realize I should be surprised, but I’mreally not when I find a woman standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes locked directly on me.
Danielle. Great.
“Can I have a word?” she all but snaps, eyes on the television and already stepping inside.
I look over at the girls, then to Liam, who steps in.
“I’ve got them,” he says quietly.
I step out into the hallway with her, the door clicking shut behind us.
The quiet out here should help. It doesn’t because she doesn’t wait. She launches right in on me.
“Pretty Woman?” she says, incredulous. “I thought they were bonding over jewelry.”
I exhale slowly. “Vivian had a family emergency. I’m covering.”
“That doesn’t explain why they’re watchingPretty Woman,” she presses. “Today was supposed to be about confidence. About teaching the girls it’s okay to be expressive, to connect?—”
My phone buzzes again in my hand.
“...but if that’s the kind of expression I’ve signed her up for…”
I tighten my grip on it.
“I made a call,” I say, keeping my voice level. “We’re still talking about themes that matter.”
“By showing them a movie about—what exactly?” she cuts in. “This is not what my Ava is built for.”
Another buzz.
“Look,” I say, forcing my focus back to her. “They’re safe. They’re supervised. And they’re engaged.”
