“I thought she was going to come stay with us this week. What happened?”

I took a deep breath. “It was my fault. I kissed her in our dance pictures and the photographer tried to sell the pictures to tabloids. I didn’t know who her father was!”

Mom pulled me close again. “It wasn’t your fault, baby. I know it feels like it was, but it wasn’t.”

“I keep telling myself that, but it still feels like my fault. Talking with Simon and the others really helped me.”

Mom pulled back again and examined my face like she didn’t know me.

“Look at you. God, you’re growing up so much...