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As she opens the door I say, "It’s not your mom It’s me"

"I can see that," Joni deadpans She doesn’t put down the phone

"I need to talk to you"

"I’ up the phone for her I restrainto leave

She stares at o" into the phone

"There," she tellsthis? I want to scream What did I do to you?

I have to remind myself that this isn’t about us It’s about Tony

"I was just at Tony’s," I say

"I talked to hi well"

I nod "He’s doing aly well"

"Thanks for the report"

I won’t let her light my fuse I won’t be the one to blow up

"I want to talk to you about the night of the dance Tony wants us to pick him up I want to make sure you can"

Joni shakes her head "I don’t think that’s going to work out Sorry"

"Sorry?!? That’s it?"

"What else do you want, Paul?"

"Joni, this is Tony we’re talking about Do you knohat hell he o to the dance?"

"I understand that But I have other plans I can support him in other ways I don’t need to be there"

Does she really believe this? I see a flicker of doubt in her eyes

"Of course you need to be there," I stress "This is the first ti He’s doing the one thing we’ve alanted hi up to his parents He wants us there Both of us"