“What happened with your dad was different. And much more complicated. Your father and I had an entire life together. Twenty years of history. Three children. And he loved us. Even when things started to go bad, that much never changed. I couldn’t give up on him. I couldn’t throw all that away. Maybe I made the wrong call, and if I did, I’m really sorry. But you and Jake …” She lets go of my hand and runs her fingers through her hair, and it’s like she’s just hit the reset button on this entire discussion. Like she’s stricken Dad from the official record. “If you insist on investigating Jake, what you should do instead of looking for evidence that he cheated is look for the reason he’s acting suspicious. Which may or may not be that he’s cheating. Investigate the cause. Don’t assume the cause.”

Oh my god, that’s what I did. I just assumed he was guilty. That’s what Penn was trying to tell me.

My mother watches me as if my eyes are an old-fashioned Polaroid and my thoughts are finally starting to develop. For a second, I think she’s going to ask me something. But then she just clears her throat.

“You’re sure Jake’s not the Crimson Cryer?”

“He says he isn’t, and I believe him. He also swears he knows nothing about the baby, and I believe that too.”

Does that mean I do trust him? Did I just throw away everything we had, for no reason?

My mother ducks to draw my gaze up from the countertop. “But you’re sure it’s his bag?”

“Yes, and he is too. He says he lost it.”

“Okay, we’ll have to ask him about that.”

“I know. He was expecting you to show up with a cotton swab and a warrant over the weekend.” My mother gives me a look, and I shrug. “Like I said, I meant to tell you it was his bag.”

“Beckett. I’m going to say this one more time, and I want you to take me very seriously. You cannot talk about—”

The front door squeals open, and my mother bites off the rest of her warning as my little sister comes into the kitchen with two plastic grocery bags swinging from one arm and her backpack hanging from the other.

“Hey, we’re home!” Landry calls out. “Penn took me to the Super Walmart in Daley, but they didn’t have miso paste, so I had to give up on the miso-roasted mushrooms. We’re having risotto and vegetable tian instead.”

“What on earth is vegetable tian?” I ask.

“Slices of sweet potato, tomato, squash, and zucchini, baked with cheese melted on top. Like potatoes au gratin, but with healthier veggies.”

“You owe me twenty-three dollars,” Penn adds as he follows our sister into the kitchen.