Free Heart Echoes by Sally John Page A

October.” She slammed the door angrily. “It’s like schoolwork. You wouldn’t say I can’t do homework.”
    â€œThose are not the same at all. Driving is a privilege you earn by being trustworthy.” She put the key in the ignition and sat back with a sigh to look at her scowling daughter. “Less arguing might convince the jury to commute this part of the sentence.”
    â€œOh, ha-ha.” She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. “From the counselor herself.”
    Teal studied Maiya’s pretty face, so incongruent with the ugly words she had been spouting in recent days. River’s insight came to mind: they were all on edge. They needed to cut each other a lot of slack.
    But still . . .
    â€œMaiya, rudeness is not winning you any points.”
    She flounced around to face Teal. “You know what? I’m a little tired of trying to win points with you.”
    Teal blinked in surprise at the personal attack. Teenage snippy sank to a new low.
    Maiya went on. “How could I have told you about my feelings for Jake? Both you and Riv are totally into losers. It’s what you both do for a living. But can I hang out with kids who drink or smoke pot? Can I bring home a Goth or a skater? No way.”
    â€œJake’s a delinquent.”
    â€œWas. He graduated from Saint Sibs with flying colors. He’s got a great job. Why can’t you give him a chance to prove himself?”
    â€œBecause you’re fifteen and he’s nineteen.”
    â€œHonestly, Mom! You’re thirty-seven and Riv’s forty-two!”
    Teal wanted to laugh at the ludicrous reasoning, but she held back, a habit developed through the years. She had always encouraged Maiya to speak her mind and stand her ground if she did so politely.
    Despite the lack of politely now, Teal had to let her go on. Maiya obviously needed to get some things off her chest.
    The very situation Teal had been hoping for, avoiding, and dreading.
    â€œMaiya, if you had told me you had a crush on Jake, I would have said that’s natural. You’re a young woman, attracted to boys. Crushes and puppy love make us feel alive and happy.”
    â€œBut you would have said he’s off limits.”
    â€œOf course. And hindsight now shows us his true colors aren’t of the flying sort, which explains why I would have said he’s off limits, right? He picked you up in secret on his motorcycle and took you camping overnight. Think about it. A mature guy would have spoken to River, who happens to be his mentor, a close confidant, and said, ‘I want to date your daughter.’”
    â€œLike that would have made a difference.”
    â€œIt would have. Trust me, I’d have been monitoring every single one of your calls and e-mails.”
    â€œIs that what your mom should have done so you wouldn’t have gotten pregnant with me?”
    Keeping up with Maiya’s rant was giving Teal whiplash. She shifted mentally from Jake to her pregnancy. “Honey, you know I was twenty-two, way past being monitored by my mom.”
    â€œThen you were old enough not to do such a dumb thing.”
    Teal set her jaw. The crux was always there, and she had no new way of explaining it. “Yes, it was a dumb thing to have sex at that time.”
    Maiya gazed at her. The deep-green eyes carried shades of Bio Dad’s. The confusion in them stemmed from hormones, earthquakes, and a teacher’s death.
    Teal placed a hand on her arm. “I was independent and stubborn. Sleeping with your birth father was my choice. It was his choice not to be ready to be a dad and a husband. It was my choice to be the best mom possible. I loved and wanted you from the moment I knew you were growing inside of me. The rest did not matter.”
    â€œReally?”
    She smiled gently. “Maiya, I’ve always told you that, and I’ll say it as often as you want to hear it. Yes,