Page 135 of The Apple Tree

Josh was too busy playing with one of his Matchbox cars, running it along his leg, to dispute the false story.

“Yeah,” I murmured, giving Kyle a thank-you smile.

“Let’s eat, everyone. I just need to grab the bowl of green beans,” Mom said as my family gathered around the table.

I lifted Josh onto his booster seat, then squatted in front of him before pushing his chair in. “I’m so sorry,” I said, getting choked up.

What if the pizza had landed on his face? What if it did leave a permanent scar and he’d always look at it and think of what I did to him.

“I wish I could make your owie all better with a kiss.” I gently pressed my lips to the bandaged area on his arm.

Kyle smiled at me as everyone sat around the table.

Mom held the bowl of green beans, waiting for me to move so she could set them on the table. “Aw, kisses make boo-boos better, don’t they, Josh?” Mom asked as I stood.

Josh nodded. “Like Daddy made Eve’s boo-boo better with a kiss.”

I laughed a little. “What are you talking about, silly?” I stood to scoot in his chair without making eye contact. “I don’t have any boo-boos.” I was a little uneasy, and I felt everyone else’s unease, too, but I brushed it off with a little chuckle and no eye contact.

Then a five-year-old imploded my entire world in ways I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. It was the most unintentional revenge.

“Daddy kissed your boo-boo right here,” he pointed between his legs, “on the deck.”

Crash!

Mom dropped the ceramic bowl of green beans onto the wood floor.

“Uh, oh,” Josh said, leaning over the side of his booster seat to see the mess.

No one said anything or even moved a muscle.

I laughed to break the silence. Laughter was good. It was my friend. Why wasn’t anyone else laughing at Josh’s nonsense.

He saw us! Did he know what we were doing?

“That’s uh … silly.” I said, staring at the beans on the floor while scratching the back of my neck. “I’ll grab a broom and dust pan.” I risked a quick glance at the faces around me.

Gabby’s lips pressed together, eyes wide.

Grandma Bonnie’s expression bled sympathy.

Dad squinted at me and then Kyle as if the math wasn’t adding up. I hoped Kyle could help him with that since math wasn’t my thing.

But it was my mom’s livid expression, clenched jaw, and tears in her red eyes that slayed me.

I hurried into the kitchen and knocked over a few bottles of cleaner under the sink to reach the dust pan and small hand broom. When I stood, Mom was in my space.

She grabbed my wrist.

I winced as she dug her nails into my skin, and I could feel her whole body shaking.

“What have you done?” she asked, voice quivering.

I quickly shook my head. “I?—”

“Don’t you dare lie to me,” she seethed.

As she blinked, releasing angry tears, my eyes burned with some impending grief and guilt, but mostly fear. I wasn’t worried about my fate, but I was terrified of hers.

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