« You’ve been running yourself thin. »
I made myself smile.
« Just tired. I think I’ll start dinner. »
I moved past him into the kitchen and pulled a pan off the rack as if nothing were wrong. My hands didn’t shake anymore. I found that interesting.
He watched me from the doorway for a moment.
« Maybe the lake house is more than you can handle right now, » he said carefully. « You’ve been running yourself thin. »
« She has no idea. »
« Maybe, » I said, keeping my back to him. « I’ll think about it. »
****
That night, after the kids were asleep, I heard the side door click. I stood in the dark hallway in bare feet and listened.
Daniel was in the garage, voice low, laughing at something.
« Relax, » he murmured into the phone. « She has no idea. »
They had stolen my mother’s house.
I pressed my hand flat against the wall to keep myself upright.
