“Why is she doing this, Dad?”
“How do you know?”
Mark paused.
“Because anybody who throws away 11 years of friendship without explaining why is the one behaving badly.”
Emma started crying again.
Mark hugged her.
“Sometimes people let you down. You can’t always fix it.”
“How do you know?”
I looked at him.
“You sound pretty sure this can’t be fixed, Mark.”
His eyes flicked toward me.
“I’m trying to help her, Nina.”
I stood.
“I’m calling Sophie.”
“I’m trying to help her, Nina.”
Mark’s hand stopped on Emma’s shoulder.
“Nina, don’t.”
That was when I really noticed him.
“Why not?”
“They’re 16. Give Sophie time.”
Emma wiped her face. “Mom, don’t make her invite me.”
“Why not?”
“I won’t. But I’m not letting you spend another night wondering whether you did something wrong.”
***
I walked into the hallway and called Sophie.
Mark followed me as far as the doorway.
“Nina.”
I held up one finger.
Mark followed me as far as the doorway.
“Not now.”
