tly of expensive cologne, not sawdust. He' d bring takeout from places far too fancy for a struggling car

iscussing a neighbor. "She' s thinking of redoing

ttle cottage she' d "found," supposedly fixing it up herself with her "a

tic. And through the large picture window, I saw the studio. It was huge, filled with natural light, expensive easels

e bulb. The contrast was a physical blow. This was where Ethan' s money went.

supplies I' d forgone so Cody could have new sneakers. Each memory was a fresh twist of the knife. He hadn' t been stru

icism. Now I understood. His moods were likely tied to Veronica, to their secret life. My sacrifices hadn't b

Hers, funded by deceit. Mine, built on a foundati

at night, after Ethan and Cody were asleep. Each signature felt li

Ethan, more like Veronica. He' d starte

f? Aunt Ronnie' s art is cool. She does,

, Cody," I' d try to exp

eady echoing the disdain I sometimes saw

sts, with the specter of Ethan' s real life, his real love. And I was realizing, with a chilli