Lily frowned.
“But I showed you the paints, Mommy. I said I wanted to make Aunt Jessica’s car pretty.”
Amanda closed her eyes.
I suddenly understood why Lily had looked so proud yesterday.
She believed she’d received permission.
“You told her I wouldn’t mind,” I said.
“I didn’t realize she meant the actual car!”
“Then why didn’t you tell me any of this yesterday?”
Amanda’s voice rose.
“Because you were already upset!”
“I was upset about the paint. I wasn’t angry with Lily.”
“You don’t understand how embarrassing it was!”
That stopped me.
Amanda looked toward Dad, then back at me.
“When you asked about money, I realized I’d probably let her do something expensive. I knew Dad had heard us arguing. I felt like everyone was looking at me as if I’d been careless.”
I looked at her.
“So instead of admitting you made a mistake, you accused me of hating Lily?”
