“It isn’t a career, Natalie,” Seth said, rubbing the back of his neck as his voice turned sharp and defensive.

“It’s an assistant job in a three-chair dental office.

I make forty-five dollars an hour on overtime.

I can easily cover our living expenses.

But Heather can’t afford eighteen hundred dollars a month for daycare while Colin refuses to pay his share.”

“Colin is their father,” I said.

“Have you even talked to Colin?”

“Colin works split shifts at the warehouse,” Seth spat.