But so were my sister’s lies, and I was done, in that moment, weighing the one against the other.

“Hannah sleeps inside tonight,” I said, “with me.” “Not in my house.” “You shouldn’t have done this to her.” Veronica laughed.

“And what are you going to do about it, Thomas?

You’ve got no job, no savings, no roof.

By tomorrow you’ll be gone.” I did not answer her.

I wrapped my daughter tighter in my jacket, and I made her a promise I already knew exactly how I was going to keep.

“You are never coming back out here again.”