I didn’t knock. I opened the door and stepped inside.
Caroline whirled. “What are you doing here?”
My dad stood near the island, jaw tight. My mom sat at the table with clenched hands. Todd hovered by the hallway like he wished he could vanish.
“I heard you’re trying to make Mom and Dad take out a loan,” I said.
Caroline scoffed. “They offered. Unlike you.”
My dad raised his voice. “Lucy, this isn’t your business.”
“It is when you’re about to set yourselves on fire to keep Caroline warm,” I said.
My mom flinched.
Caroline’s face twisted. “Oh please, you act like I’m a monster.”
“I act like you’re accountable,” I said.
Dad slammed his palm on the counter. “Enough! We’re not doing this again.”
“I’m doing it,” I said evenly. “Because no one else will.”
Caroline pointed at me. “You’re ruining everything!”
I looked at her. “Did you apologize to Luke?”
Her mouth opened, then closed. “Why are you obsessed with that?”
“Because it tells me who you are,” I said. “And because my child matters.”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s fine.”
My mom’s voice cracked. “Caroline…”
Caroline snapped at her. “Don’t start. You always cave to Lucy’s drama.”
I faced my parents. “Are you really going to borrow money to save her house?”