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two

"Mom!" Emily's voice is sharp. "I just said I don't want to wear jeans. God!"

I stop at the top of the steps at the frustrated tone of Emily's voice. Two responses immediately come to my mind. One, I come down and backhand her mouth for taking that tone with Mom; two, I stay right where I am and curse her from a distance. Neither is a realistic option, except for rushing down and make sure a fight doesn't take place again.

When I reach the front door, the tears running down Mom's face are my...