Be confident, Ellie! “Yeah, for a year. Or, well, until we’ve had enough and want to come home, but a year will be the maximum so that I can go to school next year.”

She made an angry little scoffing noise in the back of her throat. My dad sat back, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve always wanted to travel,” he mused.

My mom gasped and slapped his chest with the back of her hand, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Michael, we’re not allowing this!” she cried.

My dad cocked his head to the side looking at her, an amused smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he spoke, “Ellie has your spirit and fight, Ruth, you really think that we’d be able to stop her from going? She’s an adult now; she can do what she wants.” His expression was adoring as he spoke, like he truly admired her spirit.

I almost choked on air. I was nothing like her, she was a bitch!

“Michael, seriously? You can stop this! Don’t you think it’s about time you stepped up and behaved more like a father should?” she snapped.

He raised one eyebrow, his shoulders stiffening. “Don’t even think about questioning my parenting skills. You know I love my girls, all three of you. Just because I don’t rule with an iron fist like you do, doesn’t mean I’m not a good parent!” he practically growled. “You of all people should know what it feels like to be repressed by a parent, yet you’re doing the same thing now.”

Whoa. Go, Dad! Dad one, Mom zero.

She frowned at him but pouted at the same time. I saw the anger fade him his face as he reached out a hand and placed it on her knee, squeezing gently. “I know you want the best for her, but what you need to realise, Ruth, is that sometimes the best things come from unexpected places,” he continued. “Happiness was all that mattered to us at their age, so you can’t begrudge Ellie the same thing.”

She pouted some more and I watched her curiously, wondering what he meant about having a repressive parent. My maternal grandparents lived on the other side of the country; we didn’t see them very often. I guess, thinking about it now, my mother never really relaxed when we went there. She always had to check and recheck her make-up, fussing over me and Kelsey to make sure we looked the appropriate amount of respectable before she knocked on their front door. My maternal grandfather was a little strict, quiet, reserved even. Had he been controlling to her when she was younger? Maybe it was a learned behaviour and she was the way she was because of him and her upbringing.

My dad turned back to look at me and Jamie as we silently watched the exchange between them with interest. I’d only ever seen my dad stand up to my mom a few times in my life, but each time she always stopped immediately when he used that tone of voice that he’d just used. Maybe he carefully picked his battles with her so he could have an easier life, or maybe, knowing my dad, he just liked to let her have what she wanted.

“So, how are you planning on paying for this trip?” he asked.

“Grandad’s inheritance money,” I answered at the exact same time that Jamie said, “I have enough money saved up.”

I turned and looked at Jamie with one eyebrow raised; we’d spoken about this before. I didn’t want him to pay for us with his illegal money, mainly because I hated that money, that money put Jamie in harm’s way all the time. I would rather he had nothing at all, as opposed to the money he’d told me he had sitting in his bank account. He smiled sheepishly at me and I felt the involuntary smile creep onto my face too because I just had to smile back at him, it was like an unstoppable reaction around Jamie, I just had to smile.

My dad nodded, pursing his lips. “Okay, so Jamie can pay for himself, and you’re planning on using the money my dad left for you in his will, Ellie,” he clarified. I nodded, hoping he’s go for it. “What about when the money runs out? It won’t last a year, not even close.”

“Then we’ll get jobs or something,” I replied. Jamie made a little strangled noise from next to me, like he was going to speak. I squeezed his hand, telling him to shh. I knew what he was thinking - he was thinking that he had enough money to pay for us both for a year, without jobs.

My dad nodded thoughtfully, looking at Jamie curiously. The silence was turning uncomfortable as he seemed to be assessing Jamie’s aura or something. “I can trust you to look after her, can’t I?” he said finally.

Jamie’s hand left mine, his arm snaking around my shoulder possessively. “Absolutely. No worries there at all,” he confirmed confidently.

My dad stroked his chin, seeming to ponder it for a few seconds. All three of us watched him - my mom included. “Okay, we’ll allow it,” he agreed.

Happiness exploded inside me and I couldn’t help but squeal with excitement.

My mom gasped, looking at him with wide eyes. “Oh no! No chance, it’s not-”

My dad cut her off quickly, his voice resonating with that firm tone that he’d used earlier. “I said we’ll allow it, Ruth.”

Make that Dad two, Mom zero!

Her mouth snapped shut, her teeth clicking together from the force of it. When no more protests left her lips, my dad smiled and bent forwards kissing her softly. “She’ll be fine with Jamie,” he whispered as he pulled back, cupping the side of her face with one hand. “You need to let go of her sometime.”

I knew I should respect their soft and tender moment, but I was just too damn excited to sit still for a second longer. I sprung from the sofa, literally doing a little happy dance as I fist pumped the air.