“At least that’s honest.”
“No.”
Her face tightened. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nobody misunderstood what you did.”
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, Amanda asked, “Then what do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
She looked down at the screen.
“Then what do you want me to say?”
This time, when she started typing, I didn’t help her.
“I took pictures of Linda without asking. She didn’t know I shared them, and she wasn’t part of the joke. I made it sound like she was. What I did was cruel.”
She looked at me.
“Is that true enough, Linda?”
“It’s the truth. Send it.”
Don’t miss
“Is that true enough, Linda?”
She did.
Almost immediately, replies appeared from Yvonne, Jillian, Ana, and Kim.
Amanda stared at the screen.
“What are they saying?” I asked.
“Yvonne says she deleted every picture. Jillian says she should’ve questioned it sooner.”
Amanda swallowed.
“What are they saying?”
“Ana says she doesn’t want Sophie hearing women talk about other women that way.”
That one mattered.
“Good.”
Amanda looked up. “Good?”
“Yes. Because Caleb and I already talked about that.”
Her face tightened.
“He told me.”
“Caleb and I already talked about that.”
“Then listen to him.”
“I am.”
“No, Amanda. Really listen. Sophie is eight. I won’t watch her grow up thinking every woman has an expiration date.”
Amanda’s eyes dropped.
“I don’t want that either.”
“Then stop teaching it.”
“Then listen to him.”
She flinched.
I didn’t take it back.
***
A week later, Sophie called from Caleb’s phone.
“Grandma, we’re going to the pool Saturday. Dad says I can ask you once and not bug you.”
I smiled.
“Your father is learning.”
I didn’t take it back.
“Do you want to come?”
I looked toward my dresser.
The black swimsuit was folded in the top drawer.
“Yes.”
***
Saturday afternoon, I walked into the pool area carrying my bag.
Caleb was already there with Sophie. Amanda sat nearby with Yvonne, Jillian, Ana, and Kim.
