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She smiles back, but doesn’t say anything.
The doorbell rings.
“Who would be ringing our door this early?” my mom asks.
“One of Jenna’s friends,” I say.
Sometimes Jenna’s friends come over before school to review the gossip they’re going to spread that day. I don’t know if they really do that, but that’s what I imagine they do.
“I’ll get it,” my dad says, heading to the door.
“I wish she’d tell me when they’re coming over,” my mom says.
My dad returns, but not with one of Jenna’s friends. There’s a woman next to him, an older woman with dark hair and glasses.
“Hello,” my mom says, sounding confused as she walks up to the woman. “Were we expecting you?”
“I believe you were,” she says, glancing at my dad.
My mom looks at him to explain.
“This is Mrs. Andover. She’s from Child Protective Services.”
“She’swhat?” I immediately panic. Nova’s panicking too. I look at her and see her searching for a way to get out, but she’s trapped at the table with my dad and that lady in front of her.
“Stephen, what is going on here?” my mom asks.
“This is Nova,” my dad says to the lady, ignoring my mom. “She’s the girl I told you about.”
“Hello, Nova.” The woman reaches across the table and extends her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Nova’s shaking, her eyes darting from me to that lady.
“No!” I race over to Nova. “You’re not taking her!”
“It’s my understanding she’s a minor without a guardian,” the lady says. “She’ll need to come with me.”
“No!” I yell. “Mom, do something!”
“Easton, stay out of this!” my dad says. “The girl was never supposed to be here.”
My mom gets in front of my dad. “Stephen, how could you do this? How could you do this without even talking to me?”
“Because I knew you’d try to stop me. You’re getting too attached to her, just like you did before. And it’s destroying our family. She’s caused nothing but problems since she got here.”
“You’rethe problem!” my mom says, raising her voice. “Nova has done nothing wrong. You’re making her into the enemy because of what happened to our marriage when you wouldn’t let us have her. But that wasn’t her fault. And what you’re doing to her now, taking her away like this, is just plain cruel.” She shakes her head. “I don’t even know who you are anymore. You’re not the man I married.”
“This is exactly what I’m saying. That girl comes into our lives and you turn against me.”
“That is not what I’m doing! You’re not even listening!”
“I need to get going,” Mrs. Andover says. “Perhaps you two could discuss this later.” She walks around them and talks to Nova. “Do you need help getting your things?”
“No.” She glances at me as she gets up from the table.
“You can’t take her!” I yell. “I won’t let you!”
Nova hurries past my parents and heads out of the kitchen.
