Chapter 26

“Mrs. Dwalde, are you okay?”

“Yes. We can handle things.”

Jim stiffened. “Mom, no we can’t! One day he’s going to kill one or both of us. What does it mean that the cop says he knows about George? He must have some bad record or something. Mom, you need to divorce him.”

She plopped into a chair, wearing a look of defeat. “Jim, we’re not even married. We just say it so others wouldn’t judge me for living with a man outside of marriage. I’m afraid of what people might think.”

Jim’s eyes got big. “So you lied when you said you went to Las Vegas to get married?”

They stared at each other a moment before Mrs. Dwalde’s gaze fell to the floor.

Brian said, “If you’re not married to him, then kick him out.”

Mrs. Dwalde glared. “That’s not yourbusiness.”

“Mooom, he’s helping. He can see the truth.”

She shook her head. “He was so nice before. You’ll move out some day, have a family, and I’ll be alone. Can you understand that?”