After a brutal night shift, I found out my parents had planned a weekend at my lake house with 20 guests, without asking me.

looked practiced. He turned away from the Ring camera and barked something at Kyle, who stood there holding a cooler and pretending not to hear him.

Mom moved closer to the door camera, her lipstick too bright beneath the morning sun.

“Claire,” she said, suddenly sweet, “this is enough. You’re embarrassing your father.”

I almost laughed.

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