“It wasn’t after all that happened. It was before.”She looked a little shocked and looked at me accusingly. “And what happened?”“Nothing,�...�� I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. “It was when we showed up at Lea’s. I didn’t really want to go inside anyway.”“And nothing happened?”“No, she didn’t want any part of it,” I said with regret. “But something did happen.”“What?” she asked in horror.“She gave me those pictures of you. Of us.”“Oh! I still have them,” she realized. “Autumn told me. That tone also meant an argument was imminent. And Dave was in no mood."Hey, Laura," Dave said, trying to walk past her into the dining room. But it couldn't be that easy, could it. Laura stepped between him and his destination. "Laura," Dave said, using his most tired sounding voice, "please, can we please skip the argument. I'm in no mood tonight. It's been a long day, and I just want to rest for a while. I don't feel like arguing about Dempstead's Solution or the Disease. Please, honey, not. “Stephanie got it through my thick skull that when I argue with my mom, it’s because I’m trying to convince her to see things my way, even though she never will. She pointed out that when I do anything, my first concern is how my mom will react. Sometimes it’s conscious, but most of the time it’s subconscious,” I said.“So, what are you going to do about it?”“I’m going to start seeing Doctor Mercer again. I’ll call her office on Monday from school. Also, I’m going to put most of my relationships. Of course it was natural for her to be feeling scared and insecure right now, considering what we had been through, and her mother’s mysterious disappearance…Anna’s voice echoed in my mind. ‘I was being a bitch, Jack, and you should have come after me, dragged me to the bed, and had your way with me.’ Maybe what Jennifer really wanted was for me to prove once again how much I wanted her. Or maybe she really did just want to be left alone, and after an hour or so she would come out and.