PART 1 — The Number Under the Lemon Magnet

The plate in Evan’s hand clicked against the counter hard enough that Noah stopped coloring and looked up.

“I asked you a simple question,” Evan said.

I kept one hand on the counter.

My wedding ring caught against the laminate as I moved my fingers.

“I heard you.”

“Then answer it.”

Noah lowered his red crayon.

His picture had a square house, two windows, and a crooked chimney.

“I said I would take care of the bill,” Evan continued.

“Why are you making this harder?”

“I only asked to see it.”

He picked up the grocery receipt beside the sink and folded it once.

“Why do you need to see something I handled?”

“Because the receipt says thirty-one dollars and eighty-four cents.

The amount you told me was different.”

He set it beside the toaster and straightened its edge against the counter.

“You are tired.”