TAYLOR

"Unruly children should be punished," she said dryly. I knew it was about to be a heartwarming moment between us, but even without her saying another word, I knew what she was going to say next.

"I did not come here for you to play advocate," I say, and she drops the spatula into the bowl, and it clatters loudly, and she turns to me.

"Can you at least hear me out?"

"Mom, you can't possibly ask me to act as if he did not hurt you."

"He hurt me; I am not going to lie about it," she said, ...