I head to the bathroom, and when I’m dressed and ready to go, I stop outside Jamie’s door and give a soft knock. There’s nothing but silence on the other side. I think about just letting her sleep in, but damn it, that’s not why she’s here. She’s supposed to be working, earning her keep, and learning some life lessons along the way. I cringe at how much that sounds like one of those lousy after-school specials I had to watch as a kid.

When there’s no response after I ...