Chapter Thirty-Five
“How was school, bud?” For a moment, as she walked beside Ryley to the truck, lost in her own thoughts, Maggie realized he failed to answer her. She touched his slouched shoulder and gently shook. “Are you all right?”
A tear slid down his cheek when they reached the truck. He climbed in the passenger side. She glanced back at the crowd of kids and parents, who all hurried onto buses and into cars. She climbed in the driver’s side and shut the door before facing him.
When he turned his face toward her, tears filled both his eyes. “The kids at school were mean today. One of them said Dad’s a thief and you’re a drug addict, and that God punished us and took Lily. That I’m next.”
She froze and was positive her mouth gaped. She didn’t think—she reacted. She grabbed Ryley
