I warmed Miles’s food.
I brought Tessa something easy to eat.
I found the blanket she liked and put it over her legs.
I answered her when she asked whether she was in trouble.
“No.”
“Is Mom in trouble?”
I chose my words carefully.
“The adults are going to handle the adult part.”
She looked toward the hallway.
“Are you mad at me for showing you the phone?”
“Not even a little.”
“Mom’s going to be.”
There it was.
Not fear of what the phone contained.
Fear of being blamed for revealing it.
I shifted Miles higher on my shoulder.
“Listen to me. You never have to keep a secret that makes you responsible for keeping an adult out of trouble.”
Tessa’s eyes filled, but she didn’t cry.
She just nodded once.
A few minutes later, their mother returned.
The second phone was unlocked in her hand.
