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“I just missed being home I guess…I missed all of you guys,” I responded when Penny asked me why I was home so early, glancing at Taylor who watched me with a knowing look in his eyes. “But it wasn’t a total bust. I got to drive across the country with Mac, which was a blast,” I shoved salad into my mouth to try and cover up the lie.

“And you saw Avie,” Taylor added, before taking a sip of his wine. My eyes widened. We had kept that part out of the plans for a very specific reason.

“Why wasn’t I told about this?” Mom asked. I could feel my face grow hot.

“Zoe…” Dad said from the head of the table.

I looked at Taylor for help, his mouth gaping open. It wasn’t his fault. He probably just didn’t know I hadn’t told Mom. I felt my stomach drop.

“Yeah, we um…we stopped in Oklahoma City.”

“To see your sister?”

“Yes…to see Avery.”

“You didn’t ask me first.”

“I don’t think I need your permission to see my sister, Mom,” I fired back. Silence hung in the room. I had never openly defied my mother before. Not like this.

“But you knew I would have said no, so you deliberately did not tell me that was what you were doing. And what did you do when you were there? Spend time with her and her girlfriend?”

“With Paisley, Mom? She has a name. And yes I did.”

“ZOE,” her voice continued to raise. I was terrified of what would happen next, but the events of the past few days gave me a surge of confidence unlike any I had ever felt. I didn’t care that the little ones were at the table with us. I didn’t care that Dad hated when anyone fought. I didn’t care.

“What?!”

“We made Avery leave for a reason. We couldn’t have her live under our roof when she intentionally went against God.”

“Oh, please.”

More silence. “What did you say to me, young lady?”

“Mom…you do realize that Avery probably has the healthiest relationship in this family, right?”

I waited for her to respond, but it seemed as though I had finally stunned her into complete silence.

“I can’t believe you ever brainwashed me into thinking that my sister was a sinner. The kindest, most thoughtful Hanson…no offense, Tay.”

“None taken,” he muttered with a wave.

“She’s not a sinner, Mom, and if you want to kick me out too for thinking that, then whatever. I’m sure one of my brothers would love to have a live in nanny for a couple years. She’s a loving, caring person and she and Paisley are so happy together. I wish you could have seen them. I’ve never seen her that happy. Not inside this house, at least. So, no. I’m not going to apologize for going and seeing her. It’s done, and I’m happy it happened. I got to apologize for being a horrible little sister. And she accepted my apology, something you would probably never be able to do.” I stormed away from the table, knocking my chair over in the process. I knew I could only stay in my room so long before having to leave and face my mom again, but for now I would stay there, the door locked, nothing but me and my own thoughts.

***

There’s one thing you should know about my family and that is that nothing ever really remains a secret. In a matter of moments my blow up was making the rounds. No one had ever lashed out at my mother like that, at least not while sober.

My phone buzzed and I opened a text from Mac.

Zoe!!! You can’t pull something like that when I’m not around. So you got home safe? LOL.

I wasn’t really sure how Mac was still talking to me. He never took anything personally, which was great for moments like these. I couldn’t help but chuckle. I texted him back.

Ugh, I know, I feel like you would have loved it. Who told you? Tay?
Yep. I wish he had gotten video.
Lol, shut up.

I heard Taylor and Natalie leave, family in tow, and watched them drive away from my bedroom window, wishing I was going with them. Maybe I could call him in a little while and see if I could come over and spend the night indefinitely. Perhaps he would take me up on that live in nanny thing.

I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs and knew it would only be a matter of seconds before Mom would be knocking on my door, forcing me to discuss what had transpired. To my surprise she walked right by my room and closed her own door, shutting out everyone, including her teenage daughter.

I felt bloaty and awful from the spaghetti on a completely empty stomach. I snuck down the stairs and out of the house. There was only one sibling’s house that I could walk to. So…I went to Zac’s.

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