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Despite my promise to Solene, I haven’t gathered the courage yet to tell them the truth, so instead I nod as Mommy scoops me up in her arms. “I fell and hurt my, um, knee.”

“Come here, let Mommy see.”

Wrapping my arms around her neck, I let myself sink into her embrace. Part of me knows Solene is right and I need to be honest.

But the rest of me is so caught up in being loved on, I can’t face the thought of losing this. Of never being held like this or fussed over again.

“Kerry? Are you all right, honey?”

Miss Myra’s worried voice pricks at my conscience. Here I am, pretending to be hurt and worrying all the people around me instead of just telling them the truth.

Does that make me a bad person?

Probably.

Ugh.

“She said she fell and hurt her knee,” Mommy explains, settling on a couch with me in her lap. “Let Mommy see, angel.”

Crap. If they look at my knee, they’ll know I’m lying.

I really did not think this through.

“I-I think it’s okay, Mommy. It really doesn’t hurt that bad now.”

“Well, that’s very good to hear, but I want to check and make sure you’re okay.”

Unable to bear the disappointment and anger I know is coming my way, I bury my face in the side of her neck as she pushes my dress out of the way.

“It doesn’t look like you scraped your knee, so that’s good. Does this hurt?”

She presses on the top of my kneecap and I let out a soft whine. It’s not really a lie if I don’t say it hurts, right?

“Poor baby. Daddy, I think our angel needs someone to kiss her owie and make it all better.”

“On it.” A moment later, warm lips press against my knee with a loud smacking sound that makes me giggle in spite of all the stress churning in my stomach. “There. All better.”

“I’m so sorry about this.” Miss Myra’s voice is strained with worry. “We’ve never had anyone get hurt in the shop. I’m not sure what could have happened.”

“Kerry? Can you tell us what happened, angel?”

Double crap. Now I have to either confess my lie or double down.

Unwilling to do either, I opt for feigned ignorance. “I dunno. We were playing and I guess I tripped.”

“Kerry.” Daddy’s voice is firm, the kind of tone that commands obedience and I have no choice but to look up at him when he grips my chin between his fingers and forces my head up. “Be honest with us. Were you running indoors?”

It’s an easy explanation, but it’s also likely to end with me getting my bare bottom spanked right in front of Miss Myra and Solene. Panic grips me, making my heart race as I consider my options.

“I’m sorry!” The words burst out of me before I even register a conscious decision one way or another. “We were just playing!”

“Solene Harper!” Fury vibrates in Miss Myra’s voice. “You know better than to run inside, especially in your workshop with so many sharp objects. Someone could have gotten seriously hurt, little girl.”

Triple crap. It didn’t even occur to me Solene would get in trouble too. “It wasn’t her fault, Miss Myra! It was my idea!”

“That’s no excuse. You both know better. I’m very disappointed in both of you.”

The word disappointed stabs at my chest. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, fresh tears welling in my eyes.