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ISOBELLE

Simon opens the bathroom door and stares at me. I'm an absolute mess. I'm lying beside the bathtub in my bedroom with my arm draping over the side. Delphine's long since crawled out of the bathtub to get dressed, and I'm seriously considering sticking my head in and drowning myself. It seems favorable. Everyone else is gone, including all my siblings this year, and I miss them. Especially Teddy.

"Are you crying?" Simon questions, looking down at me. He isn't dressed for work, strangely enough. I don't know what to think.

"Y-yes…" I say shamelessly. I don't care anymore whether or not Simon knows I'm unhappy.

Simon's eyebrows wrinkle. He comes into the bathroom and kneels. "Are you drunk or upset?" He asks me.

I haven't had anything to drink, and it frustrates me he thinks my feelings must be attributed to alcohol. "I'm upset!" I wail, glaring at Simon.

He sighs exasperatedly. "Why?" he questions, crossing his arms. "You're always upset. Why now?"

I do my best to wipe my tears and glance up at Simon. He seems calmer than usual, and I'm confused. "Because of what Delphine just asked me," I say, my lip trembling.

"What did she ask you?" Simon wonders. I don't think he really cares, more than he's just trying to speak to me.

"She asked me if Mummy and Daddy love her!" I cry, putting my face in my hands. It was completely out of the blue, and I know Delphine was genuinely asking. How can she not know I love her?

"Of course, we do," Simon says dismissively. He doesn't look bothered in the slightest. "Now, get up. You'll ruin your gown."

I shake my head slowly. How can Simon not be bothered by this? It's haunting me! "But Delphine thinks we don't-"

"We do," Simon cuts me off, taking my arm and lifting me up. Why is he not yelling at me, or hitting me? I'm confused.

"Come to bed," Simon says. He seems slightly annoyed, but as if he isn't trying to act upon it. I put my face in the pillows, utterly embarrassed and ashamed of myself that Delphine thinks I don't love her. I swore I would never do that to my child, and here I am. Simon strokes my hair, and it sort of reminds me of when we first met, the short month in the five-year span of our relationship where he actually loved me. Simon says my name gently.

"You know we're celebrating my success at the Ministry tonight," he starts. I know we are. Simon won a rather important case last week, and his colleagues have decided to throw him some sort of gathering. It isn't really a party so much as it is a room full of important men showing off their families to music and drinks. I hate it.

I nod my head, my face still smothered in the pillows. Perhaps I should suffocate myself and get things over with.

"Eric and Jane are coming," Simon informs me. Of course, they are. I appreciate Jane's company, but not Eric's. I don't like the way he looks at me. Simon clears his throat. "I want you to enjoy yourself, and be happy."

I'm never happy. Why does Simon think I'm all right with him parading me around in public and acting like he loves me, but behaving the opposite at home?

"Fine," I say quietly.

Simon climbs into bed beside me. My back is to him. He places a couple kisses on the back of my neck. "Come here," he says quietly.

I want to kick him. "I'm upset," I remind Simon.

"Then let me improve your mood."

"It won't..." Simon says nothing for a while. Then, I feel him unbuttoning the back of my nightgown. "Stop," I persist, pushing his hand away. Simon ignores me and rolls his eyes, and I turn away from him.

"Are you really so bothered by Delphine?" He asks in an irritated tone, as if the feelings of our daughter are unimportant.

I nod my head. "Shouldn't I be?"

As long as I can remember, Simon has been grossly disinterested in Delphine. Maybe because I was stupid, I hoped Simon would eventually get over our mistake in believing she was a son. He never did. He doesn't look at Delphine with genuine pride and love, and it hurts me that he's never wanted to do anything with her. It was me who cared for Delphine all the time when she was ill, and fed her, and loved her, and played with her. Simon wasn't even around for her first steps or first word. Even if I could love Simon, I would feel guilty for loving a man who can't love his own child.

"It isn't doing you any good," Simon says in his dismissive voice. He moves my hair over my shoulder and gives me a faint look of approval. "Delphine is four. I doubt she knows what she's saying."

"She isn't stupid," I persist, frowning. "You know that. And you know Delphine knows when there's tension between you and I."

Sighing, Simon presses his lips into a thin line, as if he'd rather not talk about Delphine. "If she refuses to see we love her, then there isn't much else we can do."

He truly is proud, and more oblivious than he believes. "But, Simon, I want-"

Simon's lips find mine, cutting me off with a harsh kiss. I pull away from him, and he looks genuinely surprised. He frowns at me. "What the hell is wrong with you today?" he questions. "Nothing's come out of your mouth other than ridiculous complaints about Delphine."

Does he really believe he has to ask? As if I'm depriving him of that much by refusing to kiss him, anyhow. He has other women for that, and he's made that clear.

I shake my head. "Delphine is my daughter. She's all I have."

Simon leaves the two of us alone all day without a care, and it gets lonely. I've got really no one else to talk to anymore, and I suppose I channel that into Delphine. I used to think she was the only one who could love me unconditionally.

"How can she not believe you love her? You coddle her too damn much as it is," Simon says under his breath.

"You wouldn't be around to know," I reply, getting up to get out of bed. "I'm going to go check on her."

Simon's hand catches my wrist tightly. He narrows his eyes at me. "Why do you so much enjoy using the fact that I have a job against me? A well-paying one, I might add. And what do you do the entire day that's so productive?"

Simon can't be serious. "Nothing. Since that's all you allow me to do!" I remind him.

Simon blows air out of his nose. "You're far too stupid to do anything else."

"Then why did you marry me?" I demand, jerking my hand free of Simon's. "Why did you marry such a stupid, weak, woman who disgusts you? Could you not have found anyone better than me?"

"Don't," Simon says dangerously. "You know I love you, and don't make it out to be otherwise."

"How could you love me? You hate everything that I do, and every feeling that I have! I've seen people who love each other- I've been in love. It wasn't this!" I inform Simon. "I wasn't trapped!"

"Don't argue with me," Simon commands, trying to keep his voice level.

I take my wand from the bedside table and slip it into my pocket. "People who love someone don't cheat on them, or lie to them, or hit them! You shouldn't talk down to me, and shove my opinions into the ground as if they're nothing-"

"Then I don't love you!" Simon bellows, finally fed up with me. "Is that what you wanted to hear? Get the hell out!"

Delphine sits on my lap, holding a large storybook. She's reading some of it, and I'm helping her with some of the more difficult words. Simon watches from his sofa on his back patio, writing a letter. The house-elves clean up the lawn from breakfast, which we take outside whenever it is nice out.

"Do you want to read too, Daddy?" Delphine questions, looking to Simon with interest. He glances up at her, confused for a moment, as if he doesn't understand why she's acknowledging him. Delphine waits for his response, an apprehensive look forming on her face.

"I'm busy," he says shortly, turning back to his letter. Simon catches my eye. Strangely enough, he sighs and sets down his quill. "I suppose for a moment," he mutters.

I can't describe the look of pure joy on Delphine's face. She waves Simon over excitedly. He sits to my side, and Delphine immediately moves into his lap. It surprises me he doesn't object. "Mummy likes Cinderella," she explains to Simon. "Me too."

I do quite like fairy tales, and they're quite easy to understand, but not the bastardized versions adapted by muggles. They're horrible. "Do you, now?" Simon questions. The way he looks at Delphine breaks my heart. His expression says that he sees her as some sort of setback, and that he isn't certain what will become of her in the future.

Delphine nods. "She gets to get to be a princess at the end but first everybody's mean to her," Delphine says sadly, as if she doesn't understand the cruelty in the world. Neither do I.

"That's fortunate," Simon replies halfheartedly. If I had to guess, I would say he knows absolutely nothing about fairytales. Or love.

Delphine nods and turns the page, continuing to read slowly in her careful voice. I watch her as she rests her head against Simon's chest, getting comfortable. Every so often, she glances up at Simon to make sure he's still listening to her. It makes me smile.

I meet eyes with Simon as he gives me a furtive glance. If I wasn't an idiot, I would think I saw some sort of apology in his eyes. Simon never regrets his behavior.

"You and Mummy are married like Cinderella and the Prince," Delphine comments obliviously. I want to tell her that isn't true.

Simon makes a sound of affirmation, but doesn't look at me again. Although this should be an endearing family moment, it makes me sad to think how absolutely forced it is.

"I'm gonna marry a Prince too," Delphine decides proudly. I glance down at my shoes.

"Yes, you're going to make your husband very happy someday," Simon agrees.

"Like Mummy!"

Simon nods. "Yes, exactly like your mother," he mutters.

Delphine turns around to face me. Her small smile fades. "What's wrong, Mummy?" she asks, frowning slightly. "You look sad."

I shake my head and offer her a faint smile. "Which such beautiful reading as yours, I could never be upset," I assure her.

Delphine beams at me. "Thanks, Mummy!" she closes her book and hands it off to a house-elf. Delphine then looks at Simon and frowns. Her button nose wrinkles. "Daddy, why aren't you dressed up for work?"

"I told you we're going to the Ministry tonight for a celebration," he explains slowly, as if Delphine is an idiot. "I'm planning to do some work from home today."

"Is that why Mummy took me to get new robes?" Delphine asks.

Simon nods. "That's exactly the reason. Do you have any lessons to attend today?"

"It's Saturday," I remind him. "She doesn't."

Simon's face falls slightly. "Of course, not."

Delphine turns to me. "Mummy, do you want to play dolls later? Or do paints?" She asks hopefully, as if she'll burst into tears if I refuse.

"I'd love to do whatever you want," I inform her. Delphine grins at me. "Daddy, do you want-"

"I told you I had to get some work done, Delphine," Simon says before she can even finish her question. "I have a very important job, you know that."

Delphine hangs her head. "I know, Daddy," she agrees disappointedly. She gets down from Simon's lap and smoothens out her robes, offering me her hand. "Mummy, take me inside."

I've been at the Ministry only half an hour, and I'm already overwhelmed. The hall is incredibly loud and, being the person of interest, Simon's head has swelled more than I believed possible. I haven't had my hand kissed so many times in one night. My dress robes are tight and constricting. It's torture. I'm not even sure where Delphine is. She ran off with Jane and Eric's boys a long time ago, and I've been stuck to Simon's arm, performing the happy illusion that's supposed to be our marriage.

"Don't look so exhausted," Simon says from the corner of his mouth, faking a smile in someone's direction. "You used to enjoy this."

I did enjoy going to the Ministry for things of the sort, but when they were for Dad. I wasn't married then. And I didn't feel I was on a leash the entire night. It reminds me of our wedding.

I hate the stares I get from many of the other wives. They stare at me as if they know my deepest secrets and everything, reminding me that I allegedly am nothing more than the home-wrecking mistress Simon married. I want to rip my hair out. I promised Simon I wouldn't drink tonight, and I regret it deeply.

"I'll return in a minute," Simon says out of the blue, kissing my cheek and releasing my arm.

"Where are you going?" I ask helplessly, dumbfounded. "You can't leave me."

Simon nods. He can do as he wishes. "Just to speak to a few colleagues. I'll come and find you if they bore me too much," he promises, departing quickly without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

Frowning, I try to make my way through the crowded gathering, looking for Delphine amongst hateful glances and congratulations. It isn't me they're celebrating.

A hand on my arm stops me. "Mrs. Montague, you're a vision." Wrinkling my eyebrows, I figure that my mind is playing a trick on me. I stare into the face of one of the women Simon's been so faithfully cheating on me with.

"How dare you come here?" I demand, suddenly angry. I don't want to be made a fool of. It isn't fair. Simon's caused me enough humiliation as it is.

Charlotte gives me an innocent look. Her red hair is curled over her shoulder, and her dress robes make her look like the whore she is. "I'm here to congratulate Simon, of course. I work with him."

I narrow my eyes, fully aware she's mocking me. "I know quite well what you do with him. Don't think for a second that I'm oblivious, or that he may actually love you."

"I don't need him to love me," Charlotte informs me, raising her eyebrows. "Let's not pretend any of that matters."

"I want you gone," I say without preamble. "I don't ever want to see your face again."

Crossing her arms, Charlotte pouts. "Is that honestly for you to decide? Do you think Simon cares about anything you say?" I wonder what he's told her about our relationship. I don't want her gone solely so that I can have Simon to myself, I couldn't care less. But if he were at home more, that time would possibly be better spent on Delphine. He could stay away from me the rest of his life if he wished, for as long as he still has it.

"You're awful rude for someone he keeps hidden," I point out. "I'm his wife, and you will not disrespect me."

Charlotte gives me a challenging look. "I would hate to ruin such a beautiful family," she says. "Especially with a daughter as adorable as yours."

I take a step closer to Charlotte, not giving a damn whether or not she sees me as threatening. "Don't you dare speak about my daughter! You have quite some nerve to even show your face in the same room as me!" If it were socially acceptable, I would quite like to send and Unforgiveable her way.

"I was invited," Charlotte shrugs. She looks me up and down.

I open my mouth to say something more when I feel a hand close around my arm gently. "Allow me to steal her," Jane interrupts, looking between Charlotte and me as if she understands perfectly what's happening. After all, Simon and Eric are brothers.

The last I see of Charlotte is her disgustingly smug face before Jane steers me away. "It isn't worth it," she says sensibly, shaking her head. Her deep purple robes billow behind her as we walk. I'm not sure where we're going, but I think her aim is simply to put distance between Charlotte and I.

"I don't want to be humiliated," I say.

Jane doesn't understand where I'm coming from. "Then don't speak to her. Don't give anyone reason to talk." She sighs, and then offers me a forced smile. "How have you been?"

"Terrible," I reply honestly, "as per usual."

Jane purses her lips, trying to think of something positive to say. She won't find anything. "How is Delphine doing?"

I sigh. "I'm not sure," I reply honestly. "I'm sure she understands things they aren't as they should be between Simon and I. It's difficult."

Jane doesn't understand where I'm coming from. Her sons attend a private boarding school most of the year. I used to judge her for it, but now, I understand why. It's probably better to have them away than it is to have them constantly seeing their parents at odds. It's a depressing truth.

"Well for now, let's enjoy the festivities," Jane says acerbically, looking around the room with distaste. "Congratulations, by the way."

I raise my eyebrows slightly. "I had nothing to do with it. Simon made that abundantly clear."

Luckily, I'm distracted by my negative thoughts about Simon when Delphine runs into my leg. "Mummy!" Delphine says, shaking her hair out of her face and setting me with an excited expression. Jane's twins are fresh on her heels. I often have a difficult time telling them apart. They have the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Eric and Simon, but mixed with the mischievous look of young boys.

"Yes, Delphine?" I ask. She has the look on her face she usually does when she's going to ask me to do something Simon wouldn't approve of.

"Can I go play outside with Richard and Edward?" Delphine asks sweetly, gesturing to her older cousins and giving me a puppy face.

"Delphine…"

Before I can refuse, Jane steps in. "The two of you know better than to go outside unsupervised," Jane says, giving her sons a disapproving look. She fixes each of their robes and brushes their hair into place with her fingers. "Besides, with the amount of horseplaying you boys do, your robes will be in tatters by the end of the night were I to let you go."

Richard and Edward share sheepish looks. "Good evening, Aunt Isobelle," they say in unison.

I smile back at them. They're adorable little boys in their dress robes. "The two of you haven't coerced my Delphine into causing any trouble tonight, have you?" I question good-naturedly.

"We had three pieces of cake," Edward admits brightly.

"For each of us," Richard adds.

"We did, Mummy!" Delphine agrees, nodding her head up and down. "It was yummy!"

Jane and I share looks with one another, deciding a little extra sweets isn't much to be worried about. "You still have to be in bed tonight," I inform Delphine.

"I know, Mummy," Delphine assures me. She clings to my leg and giggles when Jane's boys make faces at her. She becomes serious again. "I'm bored. When do we go home?"

"I'm not positive," I answer honestly. "As soon as everything's done with."

"When?" Delphine questions, tilting her head.

"I'm not sure." I want to go home too, but I can't exactly express that. Oh, to be a child again. It's already past nine o'clock and, despite what she says I know Delphine will grow restless and tired soon.

Delphine beckons me down to her level. Her lip is trembling, and she keeps her eyes on the ground. "I don't want to marry Richard and Edward. They're my friends," she whispers.

I frown at Delphine. "Why would you think that?" I ask quietly. I know it's rude to have a private conversation in front of Jane and her sons, but I really don't understand what Delphine means.

Delphine looks annoyed that I don't understand. "Uncle Eric and Daddy said…" she whines. "I don't wanna."

Without meaning to, I glance up at Jane. "What's the matter?" she questions with concern. I know she doesn't know. If she did, she would have told me. I don't doubt that.

"Apparently, our husbands have told Delphine who she's going to marry," I say slowly, gesturing to her sons behind their backs.

Jane looks horrified. Of course she is. They're first cousins. Even teddy and I aren't that closely related. I don't know what to say either. Is Simon really that desperate?

"Have you seen Daddy?" I question, looking to Delphine.

She nods quietly. "He's talking to work people."

"Where?" I question, looking around for Simon. I don't see him anywhere

Delphine shrugs. "I don't remember," she mumbles.

"No matter," I say quietly, offering her a small smile. "We'll see Daddy eventually."

We didn't see Simon until it was time to go home, and then, he didn't want to talk. Apparently, his night was going so well, and all that ended when he was reminded he had a family and a young daughter who shouldn't be up well past midnight.

After finally putting Delphine to bed, I agreed to come to bed with Simon, although I don't have any intentions of doing anything.

I sit on his bed, absentmindedly twisting my wedding ring on my finger. Simon is in his closet, going through the seemingly extensive process that is choosing his work robes for the next day. I know he's stalling so he won't have to talk to me.

"Simon," I call quietly.

He emerges from the closet, laying a set of robes over the chair by the closet door. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry," I apologize, dragging my hand idly across the bed sheets. "I truly am."

Simon seems astonished to hear me apologizing for anything. "What for?" he questions. He gets into bed beside me, and I have to steel myself just to allow him to touch me.

"For Delphine," I say. "For giving you a daughter when I knew you wanted a son. But we can't change it. I'm sorry for disappointing you."

I knew Simon stopped loving me the day he came into my bedroom and found out Delphine was a girl. He stormed out violently, and I didn't see him again for the better part of a week. I didn't expect him to be happy, I wasn't at first, but I realized that no matter what, Delphine was my child. Simon never came to that realization.

Simon doesn't say anything to me. He moves my hair away from my face. "You don't."

"I do, which is why you feel the need to fix my wrongdoing, and marry Delphine off. But don't make her marry Edward or Richard. That isn't the answer, Simon." I try to take his hand, but he doesn't let me.

"I'm not asking for your advice," Simon says sharply. "I've exhausted all other options."

"Delphine's blood is purer than mine, and I found you," I reason, although I'm not as thankful for that as I sound. However, I'll do anything to keep Delphine from having to marry her cousin.

"I chose to marry you. Delphine is a child, she can't make her own decisions. And none of the purebloods I know want their sons to marry Delphine. Do you know what sort of idiot I look like, having to practically beg people to consider our daughter? It's humiliating."

I kiss Simon's cheek in an apology. "Think how uncomfortable Delphine will be, having to marry a man she was brought up with as cousins," I continue, hoping I can get through to Simon. Nothing seems to have the ability to change his mind.

"At least she knows them. I remember Jane…" Simon's voice trails off, as if he remembers something he'd rather not share.

"What about her?" I question.

"She and Eric didn't know each other at all. But regardless, her parents pulled her out of school and sent her to live with us. She was sixteen and miserable. I felt sorry for her. She deserved much better than my brother, a beautiful girl like her. She cried even more than you do."

Jane never told me about this, and I wonder why. I couldn't imagine being taken from my home and given to a man I'd never before met.

I don't know what to say, and I'm not positive what Simon's getting at.

Simon sighs, and his frustration is evident. "Perhaps I'm too attracted to sadness. I saw in you what I saw in Jane. I thought it had been my task to love her better than Eric, but he married her regardless. Maybe if he hadn't, she would have given me my sons."

My mouth is dry. I don't understand why Simon has to make it his intention to hurt me, and to punish me. "Is that why you want Delphine to marry Richard or Edward? Because they're her sons?" I question. "She especially won't marry them now, just to live out some lost fantasy of yours!"

Simon clasps his hands in exasperation. "I don't love her anymore!" he says defensively. "I was young then, and we weren't ever meant to be. Me loving her didn't do anything to improve her situation. Get over it, you didn't love me first either."

"Holden isn't your brother-in-law!" I cry, the sound of Holden's name foreign on my tongue. I think about him sometimes. Perhaps I should have stayed with him, there isn't any way I could have been more miserable than I am now.

"Here, Isobelle," Mum says, offering me a cup of tea. I've brought Delphine over today. Mum and Dad seem to not know what to do with themselves. The house is empty.

"This is the first time in twenty-six years I haven't had any children at home," Dad realizes, seeming rather sad about it. He's been a father for the majority of his life. Now that Nina's gone, he probably doesn't know what to do with himself. Dad's much more loving and sentimental than he likes to admit.

"What about me?" Delphine says absentmindedly, looking up from her drawing.

Mum and Dad give her a smile. "He means children of his own, Darling," I explain. "Grandfather's been a Daddy for a long time."

"Oh," Delphine realizes. "How long?"

"Since I was born," I tell her. "A long time ago."

Delphine decides she'd rather not do the math and returns back to her coloring. "You should have a new baby," she suggests, picking up a green coloring quill.

"Oh, we already have you, Delphine," Mum says, beaming at her. "We're lucky we get to see you so often."

"Not when I go away," Delphine says, still coloring. I feel my spine run cold.

Dad frowns, and then looks to me. "When are you going away?" He questions.

"To school. Mummy says I need friends as old as me," Delphine explains.

Before Mum and Dad can get on my case, I decide to explain myself. "Simon and I don't think having her at home all day is doing her much good. She needs to interact with other children."

"She could attend day school," Mum suggests. "You and Scorpius did, didn't you?"

I know she believes I'm sending Delphine away for the wrong reasons, but I'm not. I want her to be social and educated, and I don't want her so see Simon and I arguing all the time. I know what I'm doing.

"She's way ahead of the other children in day school," I remind my parents. "She needs to go to private school."

Mum folds her hands. "Where were you thinking of sending her?"

"Beauxbatons, probably," I say. "They teach children her age, and it's all-girls."

"Boys are yucky," Delphine adds.

Dad nods his assent. "That mindset's going to keep you out of a lot of trouble," he informs Delphine proudly. Delphine holds up her parchment and waves it proudly. "What have we here?"

Delphine wedges herself into the space in Dad's chair between his body and the armrest. Funny, he won't let anyone else as much as look at his chair other than Delphine. "It's a princess castle," she explains, pointing to specific parts on the drawing. "This is the princess, she has yellow hair like me, and this is the castle. She has to live there until the prince gets her," she explains. I don't mind Delphine's enjoyment of fairytales, but she seems rather bent on seeing omen and princesses as helpless. I suppose she doesn't particularly know anything else. After all, I'm her mother.

"Well, it's a very beautiful drawing," Dad tells Nina. "Shall I keep it?"

Delphine nods proudly. "I already signed it!" She climbs down from Dad's chair to show the drawing to Mum.

"Oh, it's absolutely a masterpiece," Mum says grandly. Delphine giggles and it makes me smile as well. Why are Mum and Dad so much better than me at this?

"Did you get any letters?" I question, inquiring about my siblings in particular. I know it's only been two days, but I still miss them somewhat.

Mum and Dad share an apprehensive look, and then nod. "Scorpius wrote us," Dad informs me. I would have assumed Scorpius would be the last to write.

"And?" Did everything go well?" I question.

Mum nods as if she's dazed somewhat. "Nina was sorted into Slytherin," she mentions. Form the sound in her voice, I can tell she's still trying to come to terms with it.

I'm confused. I look to Dad, and then I know this isn't a joke. I don't understand. Nina isn't a Slytherin. She's nothing like Scorpius. She isn't cunning or manipulative, or anything of the sort. "Seriously?" I ask.

Dad and Mum nod. "We were as shocked as you," Dad agrees. I'm shocked so much as I am confused. Well, I suppose you never really know someone as much you think, even if it is your younger sister.

"I suppose if Albus can be put into Slytherin, than anyone can be," I reason. I still don't understand why Albus is a Slytherin. He's one of the sweetest and gentlest human beings I've ever met. "Regardless, I hope she enjoys school." Being put in Slytherin won't be the end of the world. It doesn't mean Nina's a horrible person.

I reach my hand out for the cup of tea Mum offered me, and time seems to stop. Dad's face sets into a deep frown. "What happened to your wrist?" he questions, glancing down at it.

I don't know what to say. I'm usually much better at hiding things of the sort. "I…it was Simon," I blurt out. "Last night, we… we were… please don't make me say it," I sigh. "Not in front of Delphine. It's rather inappropriate.:

I want to laugh at the idea of Simon and me willingly spending any extra-curricular time with one another. It's purely political.

Dad flares his nostrils, and he seems to want to change the subject. I let out a sigh of relief. I have to be more careful, or the next few months at least.

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