“We both think it’s really strange that you’re still living with him,” Gina said, removing another cigarette from her pack of Parliaments. “I know that he’s your stepdad, but it’s not like he was with your mom for a really long time. You’ve lived with him longer than he lived with your mother.”

“Where else am I supposed to go?” Alice said, anger causing her chest to tighten, and her words to come out sounding slightly pinched. “I don’t have a family. He pays for my classes, Gina.”

“We’re not judging you, honey,” Mrs. Bergeron said. “We’re worried that Jake is taking advantage of you, and if he is, we want you to know that you have options.”

“What do you mean?”

Gina said, “You remember Maddy, right? She said she saw you at a restaurant in Portland with Jake and that you were acting like a couple.”

“What does she mean we were acting like a couple?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Mrs. Bergeron said. “What we want to know is that you are comfortable with whatever situation you’re in. That’s all. If you tell us that you and Jake are happy together, I mean, who are we—”

“I don’t care if you are happy together,” Gina said, shouting a little. “It’s gross, Alice. You’re a young, beautiful girl, and you let that fucking creep have his way with you.”

“Gina . . .” said Mrs. Bergeron.

Alice stood up. She felt tears pricking at her eyes, and really didn’t want to cry. She quickly scanned the fenced backyard, like a cat looking for an exit, then began to walk toward the latched door that led onto the driveway. Gina ran after her.

“Sorry, Alice, come back. We just want to talk with you.”

Alice kept walking, not trusting her voice. When she reached the door, Gina grabbed her shoulder. Alice, without thinking, spun and grabbed Gina’s hand, pulling it to her mouth and biting down at the base of Gina’s thumb. Gina screamed and yanked her hand back. For a moment, they both stood there, Gina grasping her hand, and Alice frozen, shocked that she’d actually bitten Gina. Mrs. Bergeron had jumped up after hearing Gina scream, and was coming toward them, saying, “What is it? What happened?” Alice pushed through the door and ran to the car. She could taste Gina’s blood in her mouth.

When she got back home, Jake was still up, glassy-eyed, watching television, a snifter with brandy on one of his knees. “How was it?” he asked.

“Fine,” Alice said.

“What did they serve?”

“Sloppy joes,” she said, and Jake smiled. “It was kind of a scene, honestly, everyone talking over everyone else. I missed being here.”

“Well, you’re here now,” Jake said, adjusting the chair so that he could get out of it comfortably, almost spilling his drink. “Let’s get into bed.”