-in-law shrieked. Tara complained. Ethan' s father resumed

door, shutting them all ou

My fingers, which for the last decade had mostly scrubbed

strative Assistan

han' s first city council campaign. The skills were rusty, but they were still there. The memories of

personal bank account, the one my parents had set up for me before they d

perty records website. I type

Anderson. Acquired: two years before my marriage

in a decent school district, a stable home base from which he could launch his political career without the burden of a mortga

led the door. It w

o get the twins from school or not? And what

ve scrambled to my feet, fu

I didn't

called through the doo

with the councilm

I replied, my voice sweet and unbothered

the door was followed by a string of cu

the front doo

om

. They didn't come to my room. I heard their footsteps go strai

parroting the words their father an

h Mom? Grandma said sh

f out! Is she having another

fe, their rejection had been a slow, creeping poison that ultimately killed me. They had

t. They were just children, mold

"Your mother is just a little emotional

he three of them looked up, startled. Cale

tached smile that fe

my voice soft. "He's going to handle everything.

the door on their confused faces. The first cra