“It’s dumb. She’s asking for a tragedy and a lawsuit.” Decker put his hands in his pockets. “I’m very grateful that you’re watching Hannah. And truthfully, yes, Marie does tweak my nose. If Rina weren’t so…so laid-up, I’d check my whole family out of here. But as of now, I’m stuck. So if Mrs. Elias wants to take over for you for a while, let her. Marie’ll probably be more tolerant of her than you.”

“I ask you, Daddy, is that right?”

“No, it isn’t right, but frankly I don’t care. I’m looking for what’ll work. So help me out. You can come back when Mrs. Elias has to go home to tend to the boys. Okay?”

Cindy nodded.

“And please don’t make problems. I want you here in the nursery, Cindy, because I do trust you.”

“Thanks, Dad. It’s nice to hear that.”

“You’re welcome.” Decker rubbed his eyes. “Go burp your sister. Give her a kiss for me. Tell her I love her and hope to burp her very soon.”

“She’ll be waiting for you, Dad. Sorry if I’m being a bit of a pain.”

“Nah, you’re never a pain. You’re a great kid, Cynthia. The best. God knows, your mother and I have had differences, but she did a fabulous job.”

“You had a little to do with it.”

“Not as much as I should have.” Decker raised his brow. “Probably why you turned out so good.”

9

After she vomited, she felt much better. Mack was nice—helping her into a chair, then wiping her mouth. He took out a Rubbermaid quart container and peeled off the blue lid. Dipping a tablespoon into the hard plastic, he fished up some tan mush.

“Open up.”

“I’m sick.”

“Open up, Tandy. You need your calories.”

She didn’t move.

“You’re really infuriating, you know?”

Mack pried her jaws apart with his thumb and forefinger. She was fighting him, but it was a losing battle. Such unbelievable strength in two little fingers. She couldn’t help but be awed. He force-fed her some mush, pushing the oversized spoon into her mouth. In her different life, she would have gagged. But now she was in control.

Pureed chicken. Wasn’t half bad.

“Come on, Tandy, open all the way up.”

Passively, she complied.

“That’s a good girl.”

Another spoonful.

“How much do I have to eat?”

“The whole thing.”

“Mack—”

“If you want to look right, you have to eat right. Now shut up and open up!”

She paused. “I don’t think that’s physically possible.”

Mack laughed and fed her another spoonful. “You did fair tonight. I’ve seen you do better.”

“I wasn’t at my best.”

“Something on your mind?”

She shrugged.

“What?”

“It’s just work, I guess.”

“Bitches giving you problems?”

“Always.”