She leaned across the table, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper.

“He told everyone I was losing my mind, Dad.

He laid the groundwork weeks ago.”

I set my spoon down.

My left thumb rubbed against my index finger under the edge of the wooden table.

A man at the front register paid his ticket with a crisp twenty-dollar bill, made a loud comment about unstable families causing trouble for the county courts, and walked out into the cold air.

I left twelve dollars on the oilcloth and guided Claire out the door before she could hear the next sentence.