Once all the figurines lie in pieces, I stagger back and look at what I did. There is only so much I have left, and I decided to destroy one of the good memories.

They are gone. I did that.

“Ally?” Sheriff Gleason steps toward me.

That’s when it happens.

This entire time, I’ve been holding on to small scraps of the past. I’ve been trying to convince myself of so many different things. My emotions have bounced back and forth.

Now they have finally settled into despair.

I collapse on the floor. The tears and anguish I’ve been holding back release in a torrent of screams and sobs. I don’t recognize this person I’ve become. I’m utterly destroyed. I’ve been thrown against the wall and shattered.

Sheriff Gleason wraps his arms around me as I cry and cry.

And cry.

“It’s going to be okay,” he says to me.

But that’s just another lie.

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter

EIGHTEEN

There is now only one constant left in my family life.

Baxter licks my cheek as I hug him tightly. He tries to wiggle from my grasp, but I won’t let go. I desperately need to hold on to him.

A low growl radiates from Baxter as he breaks free. He takes a few steps to grab a ball and then drops it in front of me. His tail is wagging; his legs are poised to run to catch it.

I place the ball in my hand and throw it in the backyard. Baxter happily yelps as he runs after it, then brings it back. He drops the ball at my feet and barks.

What it must be like to be a dog. He has no idea what’s happening. He doesn’t even seem to be upset that my dad’s not here. Of course, he also now has Marian’s family spoiling him rotten. Even their grumpy cat, Gizmo, has been hiding, so Baxter truly rules the roost.

“Hey.”

I turn around to see Marian standing near the sliding glass door that leads into the house. “It’s freezing out here.” She wraps her arms around herself as she sits down next to me, wearing a coat.

I hadn’t really noticed the cold, and I only have my oversized UW sweatshirt on. I’m still feeling numb from my visit to the house.

“How was seeing your dad?”

I shrug.

“Did you speak with your mom?”

I nod.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I pause for a moment. “Not really, but I’m just so angry. At everything. Especially my dad.”

“That’s understandable. I mean, I cried when I found out my parents lied about the tooth fairy and Santa. And that’s nothing. If you can’t trust your parents, you know.”

I do. I really do.