"How long did you know Stephanie before you decided that?" Melissa asked scathingly. In spite of Stephanie trying to pull back, the action only made Melissa hold on more tightly and protectively. But she did look down and her expression softened, her hand coming up to brush Stephanie's hair behind her ears. She chose her words carefully.
"That isn't the point, Steph. You're fifteen. You were twelve when you first met him. People that age don't always want to do things in ways that are good for them. I know I didn't. And that's okay. At that age you're allowed to be irresponsible. That's what parents are for; they help their kids figure out how to make their choices in the best way they can." She smiled wryly, thinking of her parents. "No matter how old their kids get."
Then her head snapped up and she shot Skulduggery a poisonous glare. "But we can't do that when someone who is meant to be responsible doesn't see fit to tell us. Or do you make a habit of assuming all parents are incapable of helping their children follow their dreams in the best way possible, Mr Pleasant?"
She didn't care of Stephanie wanted to be a doctor, a housewife, an engineer, a magician. She just wanted to have actually been in her life. Stephanie was young. Everyone made stupid mistakes even when they weren't young. Melissa knew that they would need to have a lot of talks about her actions in the near future, and she was okay with that. She was not okay with someone supposed to be responsible for her daughter choosing to cut Stephanie's parents out of her life, even if it was with inaction.
Someone Melissa and Des didn't even know. Someone they didn't know had used inaction as an excuse to put Stephanie in danger, and had the gall to say it was because he didn't know them well enough! "In fact," she said, and her voice was rising, "We don't know you either! Where is your right to choose whether to act or not where our daughter is concerned?!"
He'd tried to direct attention off him, onto his partner. His partner who was remaining very quiet and letting things unfold. Well, as long as he did she wasn't going to yell at him. Yet.
no subject
"That isn't the point, Steph. You're fifteen. You were twelve when you first met him. People that age don't always want to do things in ways that are good for them. I know I didn't. And that's okay. At that age you're allowed to be irresponsible. That's what parents are for; they help their kids figure out how to make their choices in the best way they can." She smiled wryly, thinking of her parents. "No matter how old their kids get."
Then her head snapped up and she shot Skulduggery a poisonous glare. "But we can't do that when someone who is meant to be responsible doesn't see fit to tell us. Or do you make a habit of assuming all parents are incapable of helping their children follow their dreams in the best way possible, Mr Pleasant?"
She didn't care of Stephanie wanted to be a doctor, a housewife, an engineer, a magician. She just wanted to have actually been in her life. Stephanie was young. Everyone made stupid mistakes even when they weren't young. Melissa knew that they would need to have a lot of talks about her actions in the near future, and she was okay with that. She was not okay with someone supposed to be responsible for her daughter choosing to cut Stephanie's parents out of her life, even if it was with inaction.
Someone Melissa and Des didn't even know. Someone they didn't know had used inaction as an excuse to put Stephanie in danger, and had the gall to say it was because he didn't know them well enough! "In fact," she said, and her voice was rising, "We don't know you either! Where is your right to choose whether to act or not where our daughter is concerned?!"
He'd tried to direct attention off him, onto his partner. His partner who was remaining very quiet and letting things unfold. Well, as long as he did she wasn't going to yell at him. Yet.