“Mom, I—”
“Quiet!” Mrs. Salmeron snapped. “I’m staying right here, and if anyone tries to stop my granddaughter-in-law from disciplining her own daughter, I’ll come over with my cane and set things straight myself!”
Amelia felt a gentle warmth bloom in her chest.
At least someone in the Salmeron family really cared about her.
Timmy had come downstairs by then. He went to Clive’s side, reached out his small hand, and took his sister’s.
“Penny, I’ll go with you to apologize,” he told her softly.
Amelia found a little comfort in that. Even though the twins were born just minutes apart, Timmy was so much more mature than Penny. Maybe that’s why Kristen hadn’t managed to turn him against her.
With her brother next to her, Penny hesitated for a moment, but finally slid down from Clive’s arms.
Clutching Timmy’s hand, she walked over to Amelia. She glanced up at her brother before speaking, then—eyes red and voice trembling—she managed a shaky, “I’m sorry…”
Amelia was already kneeling, arms outstretched, hoping for a hug from her daughter.
But Penny pulled away, resisting her. As soon as she got the words out, she turned and ran back to Clive, clinging to his leg and sobbing, “Daddy, I want to go home…”
Clive’s heart broke a little as he scooped her up.
Penny pressed her face to his ear and whispered something.
Clive stroked her hair and nodded. “Okay.”
He turned to nod goodbye to Klaus, Mrs. Salmeron, and the others, then—with Penny in one arm and Timmy holding his hand—headed outside.
Tara walked Amelia to the door.
Clive had already buckled Penny and Timmy into the car.
He stopped Amelia as she tried to get into the passenger seat, his voice distant. “Penny’s really upset. She doesn’t want to ride with you right now. You should take the other car.”
Without waiting for a reply, Clive got in and drove off.
Amelia just stood there, feeling a wave of loneliness—not because of Clive, but because of Penny.
She guessed Penny had asked Clive not to let her ride in the same car.

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