Chapter 6: The Ledger

I told Eli I didn't know what she meant.

It was the first lie I'd told him in six years, and he knew it.

He let me have it and drove away.

At nine the next morning I walked into the Ostrander Motors showroom in my gray cardigan, with my bandaged hand.

Three customers by the coffee machine turned and started clapping.

"That's her," one of them said. "The Ferris wheel lady."

"Nell." My father stood in the middle of the floor in his company jacket, with his hands on his hips. "My office."

"Here is fine, Dad."

"I said my office."

"There are customers here."

He looked at the three people holding up phones.

For a second I thought he would back down.

"You're done," he said, loud enough for the whole floor. "You stood in front of a news camera and called your mother a liar. Turn in your keys."

Nobody clapped now.

The salesmen found something to look at on their desks.

My brother stepped out of the sales office with his tie hanging loose.

Brody smelled of last night's whiskey, even from ten feet away.

"Dad, come on."

"You escort her out, Brody."

Brody took the keys out of my hand without looking at me.

"I'm sorry," he said, so low only I could hear. "Nell, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

He didn't answer.

He walked me to the back office and stood in the doorway while I filled a box.

I was the dealership's bookkeeper.