"You're taking her back to your hometown for a few days? Sure, I'll leave her in your hands. I'll come pick her up soon and thank you properly!"
I paced in frantic circles.
"Mom, that woman's lying! She went to play mahjong. She's not watching me at all. Why would I be out eating with anyone?"
Mom believed every word.
She hung up and slammed the spatula against the wok.
"These kids are going to be the death of me. At least this one's ours—I can actually discipline her. If she were like her brother and sister, I'd lose ten years off my life!"
Dad thought for a moment, a hint of worry in his voice.
"You don't think something's wrong, do you? That she's in some kind of trouble?"
Mom waved him off.
"What trouble? Rita's from my hometown. She'll take good care of her. If you ask me, that girl's having the time of her life!"
But Mom, your hometown friend isn't exactly reliable.
My family was strange.
Ethan was Dad's son. Chloe was Mom's daughter.
After they married, they had me.