They literally ran home in fear that Sharon would come home from the drugstore and discover them missing. And why had she left them home alone, anyway? I was tempted to tell Ted. They were still too young. Surely Sharon knew that.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I went out to the apiary to check on the bees’ water supply and, of course, laid the whole story at their fuzzy little feet. Not just the pink hive, but the other two as well. I was talking to myself all over the backyard. What the hell was the matter with Archie? And what was the matter with her? Eventually I came to the conclusion that I’d talk to Archie. If he didn’t want to hear it, I’d take it to Ted. This was too important to let slide.

I waited for a time when Cruella de Ville’s car was gone and Archie’s car was there, and boldly, I rang his doorbell. He answered and invited me inside.

“No, I think it’s better if we speak where we can’t be heard. Why don’t we sit on your porch?”

“Sure, okay.” He came out onto the porch but made no sign that he intended to sit. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the banisters. “Maybe I’d rather stand. I’ve been sitting all day, grading essays.”

“There’s something I have to talk to you about, and I don’t think you’re going to want to hear it.”

“How could that be?”

“You know your children love me, don’t you?”

“That goes without saying,” he said. “They adore you.”

“As I do them. And I hope you know that I would never tell you something taken out of context to excuse or to enhance anyone’s innocence or guilt, right?”

“My God, Holly! Get to the point.”

“Okay, here it is. Sharon cut Hunter off with her car and that’s what caused his accident. Not the other way around, that he had an accident and she arrived to save him.”

“Oh, come on now, Holly. She wouldn’t lie to me.”

“Really? Okay. I’m not going to go into this any further. But you ought to know, Archie, this is endangerment of a minor. I’m not going to stand around while these boys are in harm’s way and do nothing about it.”

“Why are they in harm’s way? Because Sharon’s trying to make them responsible for cleaning their rooms?”

“Archie, Hunter and Tyler can’t read the washing machine buttons.”

“Then all they have to do is ask for some direction,” he said.

“And if they get home at five minutes after five, do you really think they should be denied dinner?”

“That’s a bit too much, I agree,” he said.

“And should she really turn the lights out when they are in the shower?”