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"You forgot to tell her that whatever she decides you still love her" Nathan got to his feet, pulling out Lauren’s chair for her He faced o too"

"She knows that" Face screwed up in confusion, Dad stood at the head of the table

Nate grunted "No, she doesn’t Why do you think she fell into line for so many years?"

Mum knotted her hands

"That’s ridiculous," sputtered Dad

"No, he’s right," I said "But I guess everyone has to grow up so an adult is not about turning your back on your responsibilities"

"Following in your footsteps is notto back down The days of one "I can’t be you I’uring that out"

"We only hat’s best for you," said Mom, voice thick with emotion

"I know you do But that’s fora fir anywhere You need to accept that"

Nate walked around the table, gave Mo between the both of us, "when you have your own children, then you’ll understand how hard it is"

Her words prettyhis head and huffing out breaths I felt guilty for disappointing theh to return to e where I understood that my parents were people too They weren’t perfect or omnipotent They were every bit as fallible as ht

I picked up o

David nodded to both my parents and escortedby the curb It wasn’t a big SUV like the ones Sauards used This one came in a more user-friendly size Behind us, Nate and Lauren cli much was said Mom and Dad stood in the house’s open doorway, dark silhouettes care of the light behind theer seat

"I’m sorry about my father Are you upset?" I asked

"No" He shut my door and walked around to the driver’s side

"No? That’s it?"

He shrugged "He’s your dad Of course he’s going to be concerned"

"I thought youfor the hills by noith all the drama"

He flicked on the indicator and pulled out onto the road "Did you really?"

"No Sorry, that was a stupid thing to say" I watchedby, the park I’d played in and the path I’d taken to school "So I’lance "How does that feel?"

"God, I don’t know" I shook ly My toes and hands feel tingly I don’t knohat I’"

"Do you knohat you want to do?"

"No Not really"

"But you knohat you don’t want to do?"

"Yes," I answered definitely

"Then there’s your starting point"