“Something bad. I was telling Tracy about how, when we were little kids, we used to make milkshakes using the barium mixing machine in the lab at Daddy’s office. I thought it would be fun to do that again, if we could. So we rode over to his office on High Street. We went to the lab door like we used to, but nobody answered. I told Tracy to wait while I checked around front. I didn’t go to the front door, though. I rode around to the garage to see if Daddy’s car was there. But the garage door was closed. I leaned my bike against the wrought-iron fence and walked up to the side door. I heard voices. One was Daddy’s. I almost called out, but something stopped me. Instead, I got up on tiptoe and peeked through the glass.”

“Jenny, come on. We don’t have much time.”

She nods quickly, her face red with shame and doubt. “Daddy and Viola were standing in the corner of the garage. At first I thought they were arguing, because he was holding her arms and shaking them. But then he kissed her, and she kissed him back. I don’t know how long I stood there, but . . . they were making out the whole time. There was no doubt about what I was looking at. When she started taking off her top, I ran.”

“Jenny. I’m sorry. Did you ever tell Dad or Mom what you saw?”

“No, God, no. But I can’t tell you how bad it freaked me out. From that moment forward, I was sure Daddy loved Viola more than Mom. And I guess I was right, in a way. But the worst thing was, I knew he was lying to us. I don’t think I ever trusted him after that.”

Though Jenny’s not a big hugger, I put my arms around her and squeeze her tight. “I wish you’d told me about it.”

“I couldn’t,” she says, her voice a sob into my chest. “You were so young, and you worshipped him. I couldn’t shatter your respect for him.”

“You shouldn’t have carried that alone, though.”

Her wide eyes are bright with tears. “I had to. I would have died before I ever let Mom find out what I’d seen.”

“I know you would.”

“But look what’s happened. Now Mom knows everything anyway. She had to suffer through it in spite of my silence.”

I nod slowly. “These things usually get found out in the end.”

Jenny draws back a little. Her mascara has run and made raccoon eyes on her face. “You don’t think Mom knew back then, do you? She didn’t suffer all that time in silence, the way I have?”

“No. The house would have shaken to its foundations if Mom had found out Dad was sleeping with Viola.”