"I know," Vee said softly. "This is all his fault."
"You think things would be different if mum were still alive?" Valentina asked suddenly.
Vee stilled.
The question opened a door she rarely touched. "Do you remember her?" she asked gently.
Valentina frowned, thinking. "Not really. I remember her face. Just… not who she is."
"She was amazing," Vee said quietly. "She brought out the best in dad. He laughed more. He cared more. Now… now he's just sad, bitter, and pissed at the world."
"And drunk most of the time," Tina added.
Vee sighed. "Get some sleep. We leave early in the morning."
They climbed into the narrow motel bed together, bodies instinctively curling toward one another the way they had done since childhood storms and bad dreams. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent.
As Tina's breathing evened out beside her, Vee stared at the ceiling, watching the slow sweep of headlights pass through the thin curtains. Her thoughts betrayed her, drifting somewhere dangerous.
