. He insisted they stay at our small house, "to sort things out." It was

continued her performance as the wronged woman, d

an," she' d whisper, dabbing he

nce. He complained about everything: the food, the lack of a decent TV, the "smell" of our r

ned by the creek. He' d named it Whiskers, and it was his cons

ard a yelp, then Le

n ou

Whiskers lay still on the ground, a trickle of blood at it

do?" I screa

tray," Ethan said, shru

n't a mar

he commotion. Jessica fol

his yelling?"

ed out, pointing a trembling f

then at Ethan. His face softened

voice falsely gentle. "It was probably an accident. You shou

nt!" I snapped. "You

son that way," Mark gro

ger, shouted at Ethan, "

e head. Not hard enough to leave a serious mark, but enough t

Ethan," Mark snarled at Leo

Leo behind me. "Don't yo

I hadn' t felt in years,

ng over him as if he were the victim.

re for the emotional shock than any physical injury. The cut on

d already been through town, spreading her story, leaving little gifts of baked goods at the church, making small "

ld feel the whispers, the stares. They saw Mark, the handsome sol

esolve hardened into something unbreakable. Mark' s casual cruelty, Ethan' s ma

eone who would listen, someone who cou