“A joke?” Mara furrowed her brow, puzzled, and looked to her husband for help. “What does she mean, a joke?”

Jim looked like he might explode. “She means that she and Emery lured the girls out in the middle of the night. It means that she tricked her sister into walking into a trap.”

“No.” Kendall’s eyes widened in fear. “No, it wasn’t me. I stopped after a few days and I told Emery to stop, too.”

Mara stared at her daughter as if seeing her for the first time. “Kendall?”

“Did you plan it together?” Jim asked. “Were you there?”

“No, Daddy,” Kendall cried. “You know I was at home. You know I would never do that. Emery would never do that.”

“I don’t know, Kendall.” Jim’s voice broke. “I don’t know you at all.”

I got ready to jump in before it went too far. Before someone said something they would forever regret, when I looked at Cora. She was just sitting there as if in a trance, hands lying limply at her sides, no expression on her face. “The messages weren’t from him?” she asked. “He isn’t real?”

“I’m so sorry, Cora,” Kendall choked out. “I’m so sorry. It was just a joke, a stupid joke. If I had known that Violet and Jordyn were going to hurt you—”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Cora said and abruptly pushed herself up from the bed. She looked blank, as if she hadn’t heard what her sister just told her.

“Let me help you,” Mara said, standing and going to her daughter’s side.

“I can do it,” Cora murmured and slowly wheeled her IV pole toward the bathroom.

“Let me call the nurse.” Mara reached for the nurse’s call button.

“No, I’m fine,” Cora said, her voice devoid of emotion. Once inside the bathroom, she gently shut the door and locked it with a gentle click.

“Dammit, Kendall,” Jim spat. “What the hell have you done?”

“I’m sorry,” Kendall moaned, rocking back and forth. “I’m so sorry.”

Jim grabbed Kendall by the forearm and began to pull her toward the door. “Get out,” he said between clenched teeth. “I can’t bear to look at you.”

“Stop it!” Mara cried and wedged herself between them. “Get your hands off her!”

I remember raising my voice, telling the Landrys to calm down. I remember suggesting that everyone take a break for a few minutes, then we could come back together to discuss what Kendall had just shared.

Jim Landry laughed bitterly. “I’m done talking,” he muttered and shouldered his way past Mara and out of the room.

“I’m so sorry,” Kendall wept as Mara gathered her into her arms.