Page 6 of Faultlines

“Everything okay, Ellie-bean?”

Her shoulders lift in a small shrug. She picks at a loose thread on her seatbelt for a long moment, then finally meets my eyes. Her voice is barely a whisper when she asks, “Does Mom love those girls more than she loves me?”

Not at all what I was expecting. “Sweetheart, your mom loves you more than anything.”

“Then why wasn’t she there tonight?”

The question doesn’t belong only to Ellie. Lately, part of me has been asking it too.

“One of the girls had an incident today and needed medical attention. Your mom had to stay and help.”

Her eyes well up with tears she refuses to shed. “She promised she’d be there,” she whispers, quickly adding, “But I get it.”

I search for something helpful to say as I cut the engine. “Your mom isn’t choosing those girls over you. She’s just... she’s trying to do the best job she can. It’s not about you, Ellie. It’s never been about you.”

She doesn’t respond, so I continue. “You’re her favorite person in the entire world—you’re even above me.” I give her an exaggerated wink, hoping to coax a smile. A reluctant grin finally appears. I wish I had a clever comeback, or a reassurance I believed myself.

CHAPTER THREE

STRAIN ACCUMULATION

Claire

By the time I pull into the driveway, the dashboard clock reads 10:17 p.m. The house is dark except for the porch light.

An image of Ellie on stage flickers behind my eyes. Each throb in my temples drags the guilt back up. Inside, I abandon my shoes at the door. My hand is heavy on the banister as I take the stairs one at a time.

I pause at Ellie’s open door. The glow of her bedside lamp illuminates her sleeping form. She’s on her back with her arms flung out, taking up every inch of the mattress. I pull her covers over her feet before heading to my bedroom.

Ethan is lying on his side when I slip beneath the covers.

“Hey,” he says, his voice thick with sleep.

“Hey.”

“Did you get to eat dinner?”

“I grabbed something there.”

He rolls onto his back. “I met Ms. Whitmore tonight.”

“The drama teacher?” I ask, stretching out.

“The one and only. She’s…very enthusiastic.”

I close my eyes, trying not to relive the day’s events. “I met her. She seems full of energy. And so young.”

“Ellie wants to sign up for the summer drama program.”

“Of course, it’s all she’s been talking about. Please tell me Ms. Whitmore’s not recruiting volunteers already?”

He chuckles. “Funny you should mention that.”

I crack one eye open. “Oh, no.”

“And Ellie told Ms. Whitmore you’d make an amazing volunteer.”

I stare at the ceiling, trying not to cry at the thought of adding one more thing to my plate. “Little traitor.”