Chapter 15

“Is it good?” I ventured as I watched him scoop more of the mixture into a warm tortilla.

He nodded but didn’t speak.

“I’m glad,” I said, forcing myself to take a bite and swallow my food. His pain and confusion was palpable. I could have cut it up and ate that instead.

“Barrett, what happened right before the accident?” I asked the question as casually as I could, not even sure of its origin or where it would lead.

“What do you mean before the accident?” he said over a mouthful of food.

“Like right before you went off the road. Were you arguing with Hilary? Were you falling asleep at the wheel?” I paused and added, “Had you been drinking?”

“I don’t drink. You know that.” His voice was low and I could feel anger begin to rise off him.

“I’m just trying to piece things together, that’s all. Something happened; there must have been a moment when you saw something.”