Chapter 44

• Susan stopped what she was doing, setting down the coffee pot with a soft clink. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned to look at both of them, her brow furrowed with that uniquely motherly instinct that something was off.
• “Is everything alright between you two?” Susan asked, her voice gentle but probing. “You both seem… I don’t know, quiet. Different. Did you guys have an argument last night while I was watching my show downstairs? I thought I heard raised voices at one point, but when I came up to check, your doors were closed.”
• Daniel’s immediate thought was, “Here it is. The moment where it could all fall apart. If Ariel tells her Mom what happened, I’m done. My dad will not let me hear the end of it. Susan will never look at me the same again.”