“I’m fine,” whined Dad, brushing Mom’s hand away from the bandages wrapped around his head. “Really, Patricia, it’s just my pride that hurts.”

Amy watched from across the couch as Mom straightened the wrap and Dad hissed and grumbled. Her father hated being hurt or sick and was making a big deal out of how he didn’t need help, but Mom was having none of it.

“Seven stitches is no joke,” she said. “The doctor said it was a miracle you didn’t catch the corner of the kitchen counter on the way down.”

Dad rolled his eyes. “That’s just melodrama. I shouldn’t have even gone to the emergency room.”

Amy knew that was a lie. Apparently, there was blood everywhere after Dad fell and hit his head on the kitchen floor. Once Chloe had met Mom at the emergency room and dropped Amy off, she insisted on going to their place and cleaning everything up. Katie, who’d been there when the accident had happened, was still acting quiet and timid—she’d said nothing at breakfast and had been practically invisible since.

Off somewhere with Rover, thought Amy to her dismay.

When Mom finished with the bandage, she brought Dad some Tylenol and went to get started on lunch. After he took his pills, Dad mumbled something to Amy without looking at her.

“What?” asked Amy.

“I said you were right about the wiring in the kitchen, is all,” said Dad.

“What do you mean?” asked Amy.

“Oh, just that there’s something messed up in there,” he said. “When I was walking through, the fridge was leaking. When I went to check it out, the door popped open and hit me in the face. That’s what made me slip.” He laughed half-heartedly. “Must have shut off and had a bunch of bad air build up in it or something.”

Amy suddenly got a sour taste in her mouth. Dad’s story was riddled with bad science. One thing bothered her the most, though.

“I didn’t say the wiring was bad,” she said.

“Don’t start, please,” said Dad. “You’re rubbing off on me, you know. I ran into that kitchen all angry because Rover wouldn’t get in his kennel. Just kept staring at himself in the hall mirror. I had to drag him in there, and I got angry at him for no reason. You’re making me paranoid.” He lay down on the couch with a groan, but Amy noticed the far-off look in his eyes. “Just the wiring,” he mumbled, as though to himself. “Just bad kitchen wiring. Nothing to do with Rover.”