There was only a pattern: small dodges growing into big ones, each one needing another lie to keep it covered.

Howard told me not to confront Brandi with the report.

Any financial claims would go through the proper legal channels.

I took his advice, though there were nights when I wanted to drive to the treatment center and ask her how she could watch our son lose weight while paying off someone else’s truck.

One day Gloria brought me a photo from Brandi’s childhood.

It showed a little girl standing outside a bowling alley in Tulsa holding a giant plastic trophy.