walked

wait to

ould

shrapnel-Her name's Bennie. Once she's

't sound like kindness. It didn't sound like anythi

n't his Bennie. Of course she could

raled the wh

room floor, drawing uneven superheroes with broken crayons. Sandra curled up in

e you okay Dad,"

"Just had a long day,

the question h

dn't

nd egg stew with the last of the tomatoes-washed the dishes, helped with homew

, his eyes stayed

e home aft

and made with classy material. She wore a silky blouse that shimmered in the low light. Her hair had b

ounter, wiping it down even

d when sh

e stil

eep," he rep

ach other for a

t ask where

didn'

e takeout on the table. "This

ed. "They'

use. A thi

room, and Peter stood th

, they did

t silen

ning, Bennie

ched her from the window as she got into a waitin

it opened the

without l

turned

staurant, the kind of place where waiters wo

what Brian's intentions were but she had

benefits. Her name printed in embossed letters

lt su

-state-of-the-art, already synced wi

d one was... outdated," he

t. Her name was Clara, a trim, smart and s

Bennie to her new office, arranging fittings, tailori

m a glass of water that tasted li

who was talking about an u

d be on the t

d barely

, she asked qu

efully, like he was dec

rdroom drama or PR crises. You know how to think under fire. Y

ed in s

people around me owe me someth

ie f

t what she

antic.

posse

tly, unsure how

clearly satisfied

eter stared

was fo

they cou

frozen shrimp, chicken

en stocked. Cerea

ary. That hadn't

e hoped it w

again, fed the kids, told them their mother

nd kept it on the table. She told Peter to go to school an

t gave a weird smirk . "How much h

s sil

's what I

't even act like she knew him and wo

ht, Bennie ca

es not

staying near the office. Too ti

said n

uestions. Didn'

s unravel

midnight. She looked drained. Her heels dangled in one han

g in the living

d when sh

ter. You s

u said you were sta

. "I was. I couldn'

s food in the oven

dn't t

ge of the armchair, runnin

s intense. I was

," Peter s

"I can't. We need the mo

hings out. I never sa

e can go back to not having a

know, Bennie. I just know y

wor

disapp

er, but she didn't lash ou

. I swear. I'm try

st don't forget wh

odded

went

on

n Airlines, and went straight to the hangar; he wanted to work

ght shift. More pay.

nodded. "You su

m s

g-anything-to keep hi

o himself that he could still be

ian's crumbs or wherev

ice, Bennie was

ings. The end

n't shout, didn't insult. But his e

her at a

instant

ging her schedul

rself early to attend Desmond's school

esponsibili

ssing my so

"You work for me n

left

stayed twisted

d repeatedly with urgent ta

auditorium, her smile forced as Desmon

m in, Desmond whispered

his forehead.

didn't b

re

om, she found

an

t t

d her an

t's

t shift. More hours.

ened the

as a sma

oat tig

u," she w

rd. "If you're not happy there,

ay. "It's not

ust forgot that you were never someo

didn't

she sat alone in the dark,

lk? Please, it's

p after much consideratio