When I wake up, it’s to the bright sunlight stabbing me in the eyes. As I blink, I realize that I’m in my own bed, in my own room. Before I can even decipher why that seems odd, there’s a knock on my door.I open my mouth to tell whoever it is to go away. Just as I’m forming the syllables, the door clicks open and my mother pops her head in.“Oh good,” she says. “Your father said you were already home.”“He’s not my father,” I remind her.“It’s a sign of respect more than anything,” Mom says.Ever since they got married, she’s been trying to get me to call him Dad.Then again, he might like that with a slight tweak.“I guess I could call him Daddy.”Mom’s lips pull down, her mouth flattening as if she’s tasted something bitter. “That might be a little informal.”“Why would I want to be formal with my daddy?”Mom breathes out through her nose, but she doesn’t respond, at least not right away. After a moment, she says, “Get dressed. You can go to brunch with us.”She phrases it like i
Last Updated : 2025-11-15 Read more