Easier said than done. Going against Dad had been assisted by the mist's control and influence, but as soon as Mom released me and I returned to my room, it faded away and left me bereft and feeling like I'd caused irreparable harm to everyone I cared about, including Adam.

It was clear to me Mom really did have some kind of agenda of her own just in the way she'd seemed to delight in Dad's discomfort, but I couldn't bring myself to judge her for it, or wonder what was behind ...