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snores. They can be pretty out of it sometimes.”
    “They must be,” Lily said. “I wish my parents were like that. They watch us like prison guards.”
    “Bull—” Phoebe said. “They give you grief, but you and your sisters do what you want in the end.”
    “’Cause we’re not afraid of them anymore,” Lily said. “What can they really do to us?”
    “That’s true,” Phoebe said. “It’s not like getting a time-out is a big threat.”
    Near the keg, Dr. Gornick put his arm around Shea’s shoulders. “You’re the sexiest girl out of this whole bunch, you know that?” he said. Shea swayed slightly.
    “Shea Donovan is wasted,” Phoebe said.
    “I’m so shocked,” Lily said.
    Ilsa came out from the kitchen with her plate of brownies, looking for victims. She crossed the patio to her husband and offered everyone treats. Then she put her arm around Shea’s waist. Dr. Gornick let her go, and Ilsa led Shea to a picnic bench.
    “Looks like Shea’s in for one of Ilsa’s pep talks,” Phoebe said.
    “Oh God, poor girl,” Lily said. “‘Where do you see yourself in ten years? You don’t want to be dependent on a man.’”
    “She should talk,” Phoebe said. “If she married that creepy Dr. Gornick for any reason other than money, she’s crazier than I thought.”
    “ Joe ,” Lily corrected. “Call him Joe.”
    We all laughed. But then Ilsa waved us over.
    “Jesus. What does she want?” Phoebe said.
    “Girls! I need your help for a minute. I’ve got brownies….”
    “Enough with the brownies,” Lily said. But we all got to our feet and joined Ilsa and Shea at the picnic table.
    “I’m trying to explain to Shea that she doesn’t have to behave in this self-defeating way,” Ilsa said. I half expected Shea to burst into a rage and yell at Ilsa for humiliating her in front of everybody, but Shea just sat and swayed. She looked more than drunk, like maybe she’d taken some pills or something.
    “These girls get plenty of attention from boys—right, girls?” Ilsa waved a hand toward me and Lily and Phoebe. “But they don’t have to resort to wearing their blouses unbuttoned or doing whatever boys want.”
    Shea gaped at us under her blond eyebrows as if she was trying to figure out who we were.
    “Ilsa, I don’t think she’s getting it,” Phoebe said.
    “Maybe this isn’t the best time for a lecture,” I said.
    “Lecture? I’m not lecturing her. This is girl talk. Right? A heart-to-heart.”
    Shea started crying. She just sat there with tears running down her face, her nose dripping, quietly sobbing. She kept her hands at her side, not bothering to wipe away the mess on her face.
    “Oh my God.” Lily turned away.
    Ilsa put her arm around Shea. “That’s right. Let it all out.”
    “Let go of her,” I said. “You’re embarrassing her. I’ll take her inside.”
    The party had stopped dead. Everybody was staring at Shea. Brooks ran over. “What’s wrong?”
    “Shea’s upset,” I said.
    “Shea, do you need a ride home?” Brooks said. “Because Norrie and I are leaving, and we can drop you off if you want.”
    Shea moved her head, but I couldn’t tell if she was shaking it or nodding.
    “Where’s Caitlin?” I asked.
    No one seemed to know. Tim Drucker made a rude gesture and pointed toward one of the upstairs windows.
    “Forget it,” Brooks said. “Caitlin will find a way home. Let’s get Shea out of here.”
    “There’s no need for that,” Ilsa said. “I’ve got this under control, kids.”
    Brooks helped Shea, still crying, to her feet. “I really think she should go home.”
    Ilsa rose and towered over us. “Young man, we’re the adults here, and this is our house. I’m a professional. I can handle this.”
    “I’m a dude man!” Dr. Gornick, oblivious, was howling the lyrics to a song.
    Brooks and I helped Shea to his car. I gave her a Kleenex and she finally wiped her wet face.
    “Thanks, you guys,” she said. “For a few minutes there I