The rest was cut off.
I stared at the screen.
Behind me, Oliver dropped his backpack.
“Can I have a snack?”
“Of course.”
I made him a sandwich and listened while he told me about a spelling quiz.
Inside, I counted every lie Jason had told me in the last 24 hours.
At 5:40 p.m., someone knocked.
I expected Diane.
Jason stood on the porch instead.
He looked exhausted.
“Where have you been?” I asked.
His eyes went past me.
“Is Oliver here?”
“Of course he’s here.”
His shoulders dropped with relief.
That stopped me cold.
“Why wouldn’t he be?”
Jason looked down.
“Your mother tried to take him from school.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“She called me.”
“She used someone else’s name.”
“I didn’t tell her to do that.”
“But you did tell her to pick him up on your behalf.”
His silence answered me.
“Why?”
“Wendy, I can explain.”
