He thought she wasn’t his.
I don’t know how long I sat on the floor. My dad helped me up eventually. My mom put her arm around my waist and walked me to the living room and sat me on the couch. Somewhere along the way, Ben and Diane ended up inside the house too. I don’t remember anyone inviting them. Maybe nobody did.
Evelyn was still asleep in her car seat in the kitchen. I could hear her making little snuffling noises through the doorway. I wanted to go get her. I wanted to hold her. But my arms felt like they were made of sand.
Ben sat in the armchair across from me. Diane sat on the very edge of the ottoman, like she might run at any second. My dad stood in the doorway between us and the kitchen with his arms crossed. Guarding Evelyn. I don’t think he even realized he was doing it.
