cing at me with a worried expression. I couldn't bring myself to look at her. I saw her not as my daugh

the gate, a huge smile on his face. He ru

thick with emotion. He kissed my cheek, then sco

she giggled, her earl

usband, the doting father. It was all an act, a carefully constructed lie to co

id as we walked to the car. He kept his arm aro

ch and a floral air freshener I didn't recognize. On the dining room table, where my favorite antique ceramic vas

the old vase?" I a

was cleaning and I knocked it over. It shattered. I felt

believed him without question. Now, I saw the lie for what it wa

esh. Too fresh. I knew our laundry schedule. These weren't the sheet

ing his eyes. "I think I'm jus

a long trip," he said, his

cold and clear. I needed to

Maddy run an errand for me? My parents called while we were gone. My dad's

nts lived twenty minutes away. I

r to please. "Come on, pump

itant. "But I wanted to sh

we get back," Matt pro

. I didn't even bother looking in the trash or the laundry hamper. He would have been too careful

bed, took a deep breath, a

here

he box spring, was a small piece of black lace. A thong.

arrogance of it. To leave this here, in my be

ngs, and came back. I carefully picked up the thong, dropped it into the bag, and sealed it shut.

ock had burned away, leaving

rm the other lie.

and Maddy just dro

"No, honey. We haven't seen them. Is

you later," I said, and hung up b

t felt like a lead weight in m

cheerful. "Hey, we're just leaving your

"That's funny. Because I just got off the ph

ould practically hear the gears turning i

teammates. Sabrina called an impromptu practice. They have

s pat

n the phone,

's small voice came o

where

soccer practice. Coach Sabrin

the lie perfectly. The dual betrayal, from my

it up with a notification. I had logged into my secondary, anonymous Instagr

daughter, who was lying to my fac

, all three of them smiling into the camera like a happy family. Maddy was hold

: "My favorite l

hone. I didn't

at was all the