“No,” I said.

“She thinks Mark is a successful vice principal who can afford to treat his family to luxury trips whenever he likes.”

The phone started ringing again, Mark’s name flashing large across the screen, the ringtone cutting sharply through the quiet creak of the porch swing.

I looked down at his name, then at the pending balance on the hotel confirmation letter still open behind it.

“Are you going to answer him?” Grace asked, her voice calm and unhurried.