Chapter 1: The Purse
I heard Lily's muffled cry before I reached the study.
When I burst through the door, my mother had my six-year-old daughter pinned to the rug, one hand clamped over her mouth.
"You saw nothing.
Say it!"
I crossed the room and sl@pped Marlene once across the face, knocking her away from Lily.
"What are you doing to my daughter?"
Marlene scrambled upright and straightened her blouse as though dignity could erase what I had just witnessed.
"She's just acting.
She always lies."
Lily crawled backward until she hit the wall.
Then her eyes shifted toward Mom's black leather purse hanging from the desk chair.
Mom noticed it too.
She lunged.
I got there first.
"Dad…" Lily whispered, trembling so hard her teeth clicked.
"Check her purse."
I opened it.
My hand stopped.
For several seconds, I could only stare.
Whatever anger had brought me into that room suddenly turned cold.
May you like
I slowly looked at my mother.
"Why is this in your bag?"
