“I’m taking four days away from this house,” he said again, never once looking at the bed where Hannah was wriggling on the quilt.

“How are you paying for a four-day fishing trip?” I asked.

“The credit union sent an urgent yellow ledger notice Monday about the home equity line.”

Jason yanked the heavy steel zipper shut across the green canvas bag in one hard pull that sounded like a saw ripping through dry pine.

“I earned my time off,” he said.

“I don’t need your permission to take a break.”

“Your daughters are sick, Jason,” I said, moving closer to the bed.