Because, of course, Baines had filled Kennedy in on the marital arguments. The fact he used his daughter as a divorce sounding board was one of his many questionable life choices.

“Admit it.” Kennedy’s tone switched from sullen to taunting. “Now that it’s not a reason to fight with Dad, you’re fine with the school.”

At least she wasn’t crying. Gabby hoped that was a good sign.

“It’s about consistency. You should finish out the semester then make a decision when we’ve all had a little distance from . . .” Gabby didn’t bother to finish the sentence. Dr. Downing, the child psychologist she talked to, had suggested the school might provide stability right now, and that advice boxed Gabby in.

Kennedy snorted. “Whatever.”

“I think, maybe, you should give your mom a break,” Liam said.

“You always side with her.” Then Kennedy was off. She delivered her opinion and left in a huff.

Gabby was ready for this phase, whatever it was, to be over.

She picked up the knife, thinking to give that fruit salad idea a second shot. “Sorry. It’s a defense mechanism.”

Liam smiled. “What is?”

“I have no idea. I’ve been reading about grief in this book a counselor gave me about helping teens through losing a parent. Honestly, I want all of this to end. To somehow feel better.” Gabby had never felt more useless as a mom. She’d thought the divorce was a low point, but this showed them all a new low.

“Funny you should mention something being over.” Liam slid onto the bar stool across from her at the kitchen island. “Detective Melissa Schone came to see me this morning.”

That didn’t sound great. Gabby gave up trying to cut the fruit and threw the knife in the sink this time. “Lucky you.”

“She said she talked to you again yesterday and you’re still saying Baines didn’t kill himself.”

Gabby intended to say it until someone listened to her. “You know he didn’t.”

He must have seen the confusion in her face because he sighed before continuing, “She said there’s no evidence anyone hit you on the head or anything else.”

“The guy from the ambulance crew looked me over for two whole minutes. I admit I feel fine, but he could have missed something.” But the lack of blood or a bump or some sign of being knocked out was a problem. She’d searched her hair and scalp looking for some verification but couldn’t find any.

“While the ambulance crew checked on you, the detective checked Baines’s security feed.”

His what? She knew about the alarm system and motion sensor lights in the yard but not about anything more extensive. “Okay.”