“Mom,” she said, “why did Noah have to call me from the kitchen?”

Evan looked at her immediately.

“That has nothing to do with this account.”

Mara did not look at him.

She waited for me.

I could have answered with the plate striking the counter.

With the questions that came so quickly that each answer seemed to create another accusation.

With the weakness in my legs, or my instinct to tell a frightened little boy that everything was fine when it plainly was not.