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mother married Vance. Even the move to Shadow Bay had
been decided without her consent or input.
    Peyton found her mother and stepfather
seated on the couch in front of a floor to ceiling bookcase that
looked like it had been around forever. She noted a carafe on the
table, along with two half-filled glasses.
    "What's that?" she asked.
    "Cognac," Vance said matter-of-factly.
    Peyton raised a brow. She had not known her
mother to drink alcohol, other than the one time she had champagne
with Peyton's father to celebrate a promotion and increase in
salary. Vance did drink, but usually beer. Why the change?
    Peyton's eyes narrowed at her mother. "Did
you decide to start drinking about the same time you took up
smoking?" she asked boldly.
    "Don't be rude, young lady!" Melody snapped.
"I didn't realize I had to answer to you or justify what I do."
    Peyton shrugged. "Whatever. It's your life
and health. I'm just your daughter trying to look out for you.
Sorry if that upsets you."
    "I don't appreciate your tone, Peyton,"
Vance said harshly. "Your mother's a grown woman and more than
capable of looking out for herself. If that fails, she's got
me."
    "Whatever," she muttered again, suddenly
feeling like an outsider.
    "Anyway, I called you in here to talk about
some other things," her stepfather said.
    "What things?" Peyton looked at her mother.
Melody's face was impassive.
    "Have a seat," Vance instructed.
    Though reluctant, Peyton sat in a swivel
chair. She was a little tense about what he might have to say.
    After tasting his drink, her stepfather
said, "Now that we've gotten settled into our new place, your
mother and I think it's a good idea to establish some new ground
rules for you."
    Peyton sneered. "What kind of ground
rules?"
    "Nothing earth shattering, honey," Melody
said and abruptly stopped talking like tape had been placed over
her lips.
    "From now on, we'd like to know where you
are pretty much at all times." Vance leaned forward.
    Peyton rolled her eyes. "So I'm supposed to
report my every move to you now?"
    "No, not everything you do, but we don't
want to worry that you're out there doing something you shouldn't,"
he said.
    "You mean like smoking and drinking?"
She glared at her mother.
    "I mean like anything out of bounds for a
sixteen-year-old, young lady!" Vance declared.
    Peyton sighed. "Why is he doing this, Mom? I
haven't done anything wrong."
    "I know, honey," she said meekly. "Vance
just wants to make sure you're safe in this new community."
    "Well it sounds more like he's trying to
take the place of my real dad--only in a much more controlling
way."
    "Your father's no longer here," Vance
asserted. "I'm the only father figure you've got. The sooner you
accept that, the better it'll be for all of us."
    "It won't be better for me," Peyton scoffed.
"Not if you plan to take away my freedom."
    "No one's taking away anyone's freedom," he
stressed.
    "Sounds like it to me." She crossed her arms
with a petulant pout.
    "This isn't a prison, Peyton, and I'm not a
warden. But I am the head of this household and I don't want to see
you get into trouble because of neglect or nonchalance on our
part."
    "Whatever." She decided there was no point
further protesting right now, especially since her mother seemed
reluctant to go against him. Is this the way it's going to be
from now on? "May I be excused?"
    "Yes, you may. I think we're done here."
Vance lifted his glass.
    Peyton sprang up. She gazed at her mother,
but only got a vacant look in return.
    "Oh, there is one other thing..." her
stepfather said before Peyton could leave. "I'll need your
phone--"
    "What--?" Peyton's nostrils flared.
    "You heard me. We think it's best to
restrict the use of your phone calls and texting right now."
    "Is this a joke?" All Peyton could think
about was not being able to video talk or text Erica whenever she
needed to get things off her chest--like right now.
    Vance's brows stitched together. "Do I look
like I'm joking? We need more discipline