“Well, someone looks like they had a good day,” I say to Audrey as she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge.
“I did.” She beams. “Guess what happened?”
“What?” I ask.
“Chris McNies asked me out to the movies this weekend.” She does a little twirl in the kitchen. “Mom, he’s only like the most popular guy in school! And he wants to go out with me!” But then her smile fades. “Not that it matters.”
“Why?” I’m bewildered at her change of tone. “Why doesn’t it matter?”
As she has so many times in the past few days, she looks at me like I’m nuts. “Because, Mom, you said I can’t date until I’m seventeen.”
“Really?” I ask before I can stop myself. “That seems sort of harsh.”
Audrey’s mouth falls open. “What’s going on with you lately?”
“Nothing,” I say and try to think quickly. How hypocritical of Rachel and John to impose that rule on Audrey. They started dating when they were freshmen in high school and by the time they were seventeen, they had already had sex more times than they could even count. If they found love that young, why wouldn’t they want the same for their daughter?
I make a snap decision. “You should go out with him,” I say before I can change my mind.
Audrey squeals and runs over to give me a hug. “Really? Do you mean it?”
“Yes,” I say. “I mean, you’re almost seventeen, right?”
“In eight months.”
“Oh well, same difference,” I say lightly. “What are you waiting for? You better go call him and tell him you’re available this weekend!”
She throws her arms around my neck before grabbing her phone off the counter and heading to her room to spread the news. “Thanks so much, Mom. This is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for me.”
Although I highly doubt that’s true, it feels good to have made Audrey so happy. And I’m sure Rachel won’t mind too much. I know they’ve always been a bit overprotective of Audrey, their firstborn. Maybe they just needed a little shove in the right direction to give her a little more room to breathe.
“Dad’s going to freak out when he hears what you just did.” I turn and see Sophie standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
Whoops. I hadn’t really thought about that. “Maybe we don’t have to tell him?” I give her my sweetest smile. “It could just be our little secret?”
“The problem is, secrets always have a way of coming out, Mom,” she says wisely. Then she smiles. “You are so dead.”
? ? ?
“What are you acting so nervous about?” Rachel pulls me aside later in the kitchen. She’s joined us for dinner again so she can see John and the kids. Normally I would welcome her with open arms, but all I can think of is that she’s going to discover that I went behind her and John’s back and gave Audrey permission to go out with Mr. Super Stud.
“Nothing,” I lie as I hand her the mashed potatoes that I slaved over earlier that day. I was proud to say that my food was becoming a bit more edible. What was becoming of me?
“Sophie! Audrey! Dinner!” John calls as he joins us at the table. The girls come bounding down the stairs, Audrey, with that huge giddy smile still glued to her face and Sophie, wearing a smug one, as if she couldn’t wait for the fireworks to begin.
Sophie starts in immediately. “So, Audrey, how was your day?” she asks, reaching for the salad.
I interrupt before Audrey can answer. “I was actually hoping we could hear about Aunt Casey’s day first.” I nod at Rachel.
But she shakes her head. “No, I’d rather hear about how the girls are doing.” She smiles at Audrey.
I sink down in my seat.
Audrey can barely contain herself. “Today was the best day ever, Aunt Casey!”
“Wow, really? What happened?” Rachel looks over at me and I look away and scoop some corn onto my plate.
“Chris McNies asked me out!”
John, having barely uttered a word since he got home, perks up. “The star quarterback? That Chris McNies?” I can tell he’s impressed.
“Yes!” Audrey exclaims.
“That’s fantastic news!” Rachel interjects, and for a minute I think I might be okay. But then she adds, “It’s too bad you’ll have to turn him down. I know your mom and dad have a very strict policy about dating before you’re seventeen.” She looks over at me pointedly.
“That’s the best part, Aunt Casey! Mom said I could go! We’re going out this weekend!”
“What?” Rachel and John yell out at the same time. I sink even lower in my seat, trying to disappear.
“Rachel, how could you tell her that? That’s a decision we made together! You can’t just change the rules whenever you feel like it,” John says, his face reddening.
“Yeah,” Rachel chimes in. “What were you thinking?” John looks over, clearly surprised Casey would take his side.