“She’s sick. She asked when I was picking up Melissa.”
“I dropped Mel off so I could cook.”
“She says you’ve been dropping her off every day for two weeks.”
He laughed, quick and light. “She must be confused.” Then he looked at Melissa. “Right, Mel? Today was the first time, right?”
She chirped, “YES, DADDY!” Ben smiled at me like that settled it.
My skin crawled. Ben is usually a terrible liar. This was smooth.
“Don’t Lie. Not Again.”
“Ben,” I said quietly. “Sit.”
“Karen—”
“Sit.”
He sat at the table. I pointed down the hall. “Melissa, go play in your room.” She pouted. “Five minutes.” She ran off.
Continue on the next page:
