ater, I sat

gning seriousness.

stracted, probably thinking

think... I think I

suspicion in her ey

raight in the eye. "To help support Kevin's future

h in my mouth, but Brend

A slow smile spre

u," she said, her voice dripping with false a

s daughter finally making her

kening. Bu

ash I had, money I' d saved from my part-t

to the co

n shake as I filled

rom my first life. A jackpot that went u

t would be c

e lining of my old purse. M

. A small bakery and

ell of bread and coffe

y, it kept me o

e me a van

r rather, I he

nts in the bathroom.

humming from his b

tallic odor started to clin

course, not

d, she chose

, she' d

t all the cookies I

vin had devoured them

say, my voice mee

lling me to have more con

ch act of subservience, s

lightly dim-wi

lder. More reckless

he was un

d no