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“I don’t know why you felt the need to keep it from me, Meredith. I’ve always supported you.”

Have you? Have you really?

“I just didn’t want you to think that I wanted to leave immediately or anything.”

She sighs heavily. “I suppose all birds must leave the nest.” She strokes my hair. “It’s just hard…”

I reach over and hug her, feeling suddenly emotional. “I’m not just going to up and leave, Mother.”

Even though that was exactly what I had planned to do. Not anymore.

This baby has changed a lot of my plans.

“Of course not. You’ll have to save plenty and access your trust fund even more.” She stands up. “I’ve been looking at houses...”

“I thought I’d just get an apartment, Moth?—”

“Whitlocks don’t live inapartments.”She sounds highly offended, and I can’t help but laugh.

“All right, maybe not. But I don’t need a big place?—”

“There's a couple of places I want you to look at with me.”

“Mother, I really think I can do this myself.”

“No one said you couldn’t.” She’s already turning to leave the room. “Just humor an old woman, would you?”

“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, so I can’t until Tuesday.”

She whirls around to face me, her blue eyes narrowing. “Why? Are you sick?”

I shake my head, feeling nauseous. “Nothing like that. Just a stomach bug.”

“I could drive you.”

I take a deep breath and try not to panic. “My friend Dina is driving me already. Thanks anyway.”

Please don’t push.

Thank God, she doesn’t, just nods. “Let me know if you need help with the bill.”

Then she’s gone, out into the hallway, and I can breathe again.

I look at my phone. I still want to talk to Logan, but I also don’t want to bother him like a teenager all over again.

I bite my lip, texting him.Close call with Mother.

Logan:Everything okay?

Me:Fine, just… it scared me. I’m sorry I haven’t told her.

Logan:It’s okay. I get it.

But does he? Does he really understand what a big deal all of this is for me?

Logan has always been the only way I rebelled against my parents. I’ve always done what they said, gone to the schools they offered, followed their rules. Until Logan came along.

And after he left, I tried to continue to do what they wanted. I’ve never had my own life.