The Note on Jolene’s Monitor Said Two Words

and stupid.

The lock had been changed. Twice.

My father’s letter sat on the coffee table between us.

I hadn’t finished it yet.

Jolene pointed her chopsticks at my cheek, where the bruise from Ryan’s slap had gone yellow at the edges.

“You know,” she said, “for a first marriage, that was a lot.”

I stared at her.

Then I started laughing.

This time, it sounded continue reading …