Tina forced air out noisily through her nose. ‘I told you – I’m fine, Peggy.’
Peggy leant back in her chair and fixed her step-daughter with a stare. ‘You’re not fine. Your hair is lank and there are pronounced shadows beneath your eyes.’ She squinted at the screen. ‘And if I’m not mistaken, there’s food on your collar.’
Tina looked down, first at one side and then the other. She lifted the edge of her shirt to her nose. ‘Peanut butter! How the hell…’ She shook her head. ‘Outward appearances don’t mean anything.’
Peggy inclined her head. ‘They don’t. Lord knows I’m not pressing you to conform to societal beauty norms – but I do believe in taking pride in oneself. Appearances can communicate information about where we’re at mentally. The fact you haven’t fixed your hair doesn’t matter to me. But I suspect you haven’t washed it recently – and I know that matters to you. The bags under your eyes tell me you’re either dehydrated or exhausted. I’m worried about—’
‘Peggy, stop!’
‘Tina.’ They sat that way for a minute. Peggy was starting to think this call had been in vain. ‘You matter to me. I want you to be happy. Not all the time – that’s not feasible. But on the whole. The way you cancelled on your mother and me last night tells me something isn’t right. I’m asking you to tell me what’s wrong. I promise – we’ll figure it out together.’
‘It’s…’ Tina heaved a sigh. ‘Fine. It’s this guy. And, no, I do not want you to set Mum or Harvey Junior on him.’
Peggy chuckled at the thought of that. ‘Okay. Fair enough. Your mother isn’t home right now. Your brother won’t go after him.’ I might, though, she definitely didn’t say aloud. ‘Just tell me what happened.’
