Page 3 of Till Death Do Us Part

“And then make it look like an accident.”

“You’ve never failed before, Vera.”

That wasn’t true. If I hadn’t failed so many times, things would have been different. I closed my eyes, and I saw his face again, half-shadowed in the dim light through the curtains, his hand curled into a fist.

Again, he said.

Again, I thought.

Chapter 1

elaine

I didn’t have enough.

It was my own fault. When the community volunteering event at the library had been threatening to fall through if we didn’t have the money to keep the space open another night, all I could think of was the kids who came in and had nowhere else to go.

Deanne would be coming back with the big fantasy novel she was reading—so far above her age grade, and all the other librarians told her to pick something more age-appropriate. But she was nine years old and didn’t feel safe at home, and the land of flying dragons and kingdom inheritances was her safe place to get away.

She’d sit down on the big couch and ask me to explain a concept or a word, and I’d tell her all about it, and her eyes would shine as she dove back into the book.

I pictured all the other kids, and I pictured Deanne, shoving the book into her backpack and coming out to the library, and I pictured the look on her face when she saw it was closed.

So I’d put my hand up. I’d said I could cover it out of pocket. After all, I’d just gotten my paycheck.

I’d be okay. The kids would be okay.

But my hands shook when I handed the bills over to Mom, who snatched them out of my hand.

“It’s about time,” she said. “I was wondering if you were skipping this time.”

“I’m sorry I’m here so late,” I said quietly. “I had a shift at the bar tonight too…”

She sniffed dismissively as she riffed through the bills, and she stopped at the last one. “Where’s the rest of it?”

I winced. “That’s all I have this time.”

Her eyes flashed with anger, and I flinched as she threw the bills down on the table. “Did you get fired?”

“No! I just… the budget is tight at the library right now, and the bar hasn’t had as many hours…”

Mom pointed to the next room. “I’m here looking after your siblings, and you can’t even contribute your fair share? After I raised you?”

I won’t cry. Not where she can see. Not when I know what she’ll say. I looked down. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll bet you kept it for yourself. What have you been doing lately? Skipping work and going to parties?” She slammed her hand down on the kitchen table, and I jumped. “You don’t care about this family at all, Elaine!”

“I do! It’s just—”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses!”

I heard a whimper from the floor, and I craned my neck to where Bernard, the skittish family dachshund, was cowering in the corner of the kitchen. He picked his head up when he saw me, though—I’d always been the only one to take him out and spend time with him, Matthew too busy with coursework, and Caitlyn couldn’t walk far enough—and his little tail started wagging as he came nervously over to me.

“I’m really sorry,” I said, kneeling to hold a hand out for Bernard. “I’ll see if there are any night shifts to pick up for the bar so I can cover the remainder.”

Bernard walked right past my hand and into my arms, cuddling into my chest, and I hugged him against the cold air—a draft coming from the pantry. Holes in the foundation that led to the outside. Another thing that would need fixing. Would need money.

Mom sneered at me. “Don’t use the dog as a shield,” she said. “At least make yourself useful and clean up! This house is a mess now that you’ve stopped doing anything to help!”