Caroline set one grocery bag down too hard.
A carton inside shifted, and a plastic bottle of fruit punch rolled out across the floor until it stopped beside her shoe.
“I do breakfast, school, homework, laundry, everything,” she said. “Then you walk in and play hero.”
The bottle rested between us like an object placed into evidence.
“Whatever problems we have are between you and me,” I said.
Caroline stepped in front of the mudroom door.
“You are not taking her to a hospital and making me look like a monster.”
Ella trembled against my chest.
“Move.”
Caroline’s jaw tightened.
“Walk out that door with her, Adam, and don’t bother coming back.”
For one ugly heartbeat, I imagined shouting until every picture frame in the hallway shook.
I imagined demanding answers while Ella listened.
