We took Ellen in when she had nowhere else. That’s how we were raised.”

I moved around the perimeter pouring iced tea with my face blank. In the ICU you learn to push epinephrine into a crashing patient with hands like stone.

But Derek was getting nervous. Liars have radar for weather changes, and my silence was setting his off. He caught me in the hallway with the salad bowls.

“Whatever game you’re playing tonight, knock it off.”

“I’m serving dinner, Derek. Go sit down.”

He looked for the little sister he used to push around and found nothing there. He backed away.