baggage between us.”
“What happened? Why did she leave?”
I exhaled. When we heard Nora was coming for Ray’s funeral, Charlie and I guessed Logan would ask this question. Neither of us was eager to tell Logan the story of her conception. Honestly, it was astonishing Logan hadn’t heard murmurs of the story. Lynchfield was insular and small, and everyone loved to gossip. But, somehow the consensus had been there was no need for Logan to know she was the product of a betrayal and the town had kept the secret. If Nora had come and gone quickly, and if seeing Nora hadn’t brought my long-suppressed emotions to the surface, there would be no need to tell Logan at all. I was tired of lying. But, not tired enough yet. I took the cowardly way out.
“She had a falling out with her father,” I said.
“About what?”
It was the part of the story only three living souls knew, and I wasn’t ready to tell Logan. Or Charlie.
“I don’t know.”
“She didn’t tell you? Her best friend?”
“She left for boot camp and couldn’t call or write.”
“But, after...?”
Charlie came in through the back door and called out a greeting. He stopped twirling his keys around his index finger when he saw us. “Hey.” His brow furrowed at the sight of the food containers. “Cooper’s?”
“I went for a drive,” I said.
“Mom’s telling me why Nora left town.”
Charlie stilled, his eyes shifting to me. “She is?”
“I said she had a falling out with Ray.”
Charlie nodded. “That’s right.”
“But, you were surprised when she said that at the visitation,” Logan said to Charlie. “Like you thought there was a different reason. What was it?”
Charlie laughed. “I was surprised because I’d forgotten the reason. It was all a long time ago.” He came forward and kissed me on the cheek. “How was your day? You okay?” He looked genuinely concerned. He must have just finished fucking his flavor of the month. He was always extra solicitous after his hookups.
“My day was good. Yours?”
“Not bad. Committee meeting about the fund raiser.” He unwrapped the brisket, picked up a burnt end, and ate it. A small groan escaped his throat. “God, that’s delicious.”
“I still think it’s a mistake to have it in summer, in a dance hall with no AC.”
“There’ll be plenty of cold Lone Star.”
“Charlie, that’s not an enticement to anyone except hipsters who think drinking Lone Star is retro cool.”
“So, that’s it?” Logan said.
“That’s what?” Charlie said.
“The whole story? You don’t talk to your best friend, and your high school girlfriend since before the internet, and you aren’t even going to say why?”
“We had the internet,” I said, a little defensively, before realizing she wasn’t entirely wrong.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Charlie said. “Nora left town and made a life in DC. We made a life here. People lose touch all the time, Squirt.”
Logan jerked the microwave door open and removed her plate. “God, y’all think I’m a moron.” She pierced us with her blue eyes. “I’ve done the math, you know,” she said and left the kitchen. She called over her shoulder. “And don’t call me Squirt.”
Charlie made a plate.
“We need to tell her,” I said.
“No.”
“She already knows, Charlie.”
“She thinks she knows.”
“Aren’t you tired of lying?”
“Nope.”
“You are exceptionally good at it.”
“As are you, Soph. You went for a drive?”
“How else do you explain this?” I said, waving my hand at the barbecue.
“That’s not all you did.”
“You’re right. I listened to NPR and thought.”
Charlie laughed.
The thing was, I couldn’t blame Charlie or Logan for suspecting me of drinking. Going for a drive was the fucking euphemism for my drinking. I pulled the breathalyzer out of the drawer and blew into it. Charlie glanced at the readout—0.0—shrugged and continued making his plate. I was ashamed at having to do it and angry at his dismissiveness.
“It’s only a matter of time before she hears the story from someone. She might as well hear it from us.”
“No, and that’s final.” He put his plate in the microwave.
I gritted my teeth. “Don’t want to jeopardize your role as the perfect parent?”
“No,” he said, patiently. “I know you two are going through a tough time and I don’t want Logan to have another reason to resent you.” He put his hands on my hips and pulled me toward him. “What’s wrong, Soph? Did something happen at work?”
“Work is fine,” I said. “I saw Nora today.”
“Ah. Did you invite her to dinner?”
“Yes, which is why we need to tell Logan. She’ll put Nora on the spot; you know