PART 3 Patricia’s expression changed first. “Emily, stop!” she hissed. “You have no idea what you’re saying!” I kept talking. I gave the dispatcher our address. I described the slap, the fall, and what Patricia had said afterward. I told her that my husband and mother-in-law had arrived at the hospital and that Patricia was…

PART 3 My mother closed her eyes. My father didn’t respond immediately. He simply stared at the papers as if the numbers might rearrange themselves into something that made sense. Ranata shifted in her chair. “Fay, this isn’t the time to make everything about you.” I turned toward her. “I’m not making anything about me.…

PART 3 “And you believed him?” Her face crumpled. “I thought I was helping you, Gary. Jordan told me you had started gambling and were too ashamed to admit it. He said the debt was getting worse, and he was afraid you would lose everything if people found out.” “Everything,” I repeated quietly. I almost…

PART 3 Patricia’s expression changed first. “Emily, stop!” she hissed. “You have no idea what you’re saying!” I kept talking. I gave the dispatcher our address. I described the slap, the fall, and what Patricia had said afterward. I told her that my husband and mother-in-law had arrived at the hospital and that Patricia was…

PART 3 My mother closed her eyes. My father didn’t respond immediately. He simply stared at the papers as if the numbers might rearrange themselves into something that made sense. Ranata shifted in her chair. “Fay, this isn’t the time to make everything about you.” I turned toward her. “I’m not making anything about me.…

PART 3 “And you believed him?” Her face crumpled. “I thought I was helping you, Gary. Jordan told me you had started gambling and were too ashamed to admit it. He said the debt was getting worse, and he was afraid you would lose everything if people found out.” “Everything,” I repeated quietly. I almost…