"You didn't tell me that you and Loren discussed earlier about her wanting out of ballet," Dad said.

"She didn't go to practice today as she was supposed to. I found them at Tony's across the street. They all apologized. Loren said she didn't want to pursue ballet anymore without Franco, so I told her she shouldn't make important decisions in the grieving process."

"It sounds to me like you were dismissive of her concerns. If I knew that, I would've spoken up when you were taunting her about calling Mrs. Denton."

"I was not being dismissive. It was tough love. Something you should try."

"Excuse me?"

"Loren is daddy's little girl, and she knows it. She plays you like a fiddle."

"Are you jealous? Is that why you're so tough on her?"

"We've spent so much money on ballet--,"

Dad interrupted. "I don't care how much we've spent. Money means nothing if we're forcing our daughter to do something she doesn't want to do. What's wrong with you? Loren misses Franco. I will gladly take the loss of money if it meant Loren was emotionally happy."

"I miss our son, too. I cry for him every day, but...life must go on. He'd want us all to be happy. Loren's happy as a ballet dancer. I don't want her to base any decisions off emotions and then have her regret it later. Please trust me on this."

"You just said you care about the money."

"No, what I said was, 'we've spent so much money on ballet,' and then you cut me off. You have no idea what I was going to say."

"What were you going to say?" Dad asked sarcastically.

"Just forget it."

"No, say it."

"No, you answer me this--do you really think Kina started that fire?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they both said she did. Why don't you believe them?"

"I think Loren got upset that I said she couldn't quit ballet and started that fire out of spite. I think Kina ran in there to stop her."

"Why would Kina lie?"

"Maybe Loren is bullying her. I don't know. All I do know is that I heard Kina scream, 'Loren, no.' That's what prompted me to run upstairs to see what was going on."

"Maybe she screamed that after Loren tackled her to the ground to stop her."

"No. She sounded scared, fearful for her life."

"Maybe you're just remembering details that fit the story of Loren's a liar. I'm sorry, but if both of my daughters tell me something, I'm going to believe them. If that makes me naive, then so be it."

"So just like that you're gonna be dismissive of your wife's feelings?"

"Sounds exactly like what you did to Loren today. Apologize to her about your attitude when you should've been supportive of her. Do that, then we can question Kina and Loren separately to see if their stories match up."

Mom gave a loud sigh, and then she said, "Agreed."

"Okay. It's been a long night. Let's get some sleep. I love you."

"I love you, too."

I crept on my tippy toes and stopped when I thought I was standing in front of Franco's bedroom door. Why hadn't Dad asked me to sleep in there, so Kina and I didn't have to share a bed? Her bed was tiny. Who knew if I would even fit in it with her?

Once I got inside her room, I shut her door. The light of the moon came through her window, letting me see, so I didn't step on any of her stuffed toys or gadgets on the floor. When I snuck into her bed, I thought I'd hear soft snoring.

Instead, I was greeted with, "Were Mom and Dad fighting?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why aren't you asleep?"

"I was waiting on you."

"Why?"

"Are we cool now?"

"Is that why you helped me lie? If so, you're an even bigger idiot then I thought. I'll never forgive you for killing Franco."

"But--,"

"I don't wanna hear it. Go to sleep."

"Please, what can I do so you don't hate me anymore? I'll do anything."

"I wish you would have let us die in that fire. Now I have to go to ballet practice tomorrow. Help me get out of it, and I'll reconsider my hatred of you."

"I'll think of something. I promise." Kina rolled over onto her side so her back faced me. "I'm happy we didn't die tonight. We're only kids."

"So...Franco was only a kid, too. We could've been reunited with him."

"He wouldn't want that. He'd want us to be happy, to live our lives to the fullest."

I punched the mattress. "Shut up, Kina. I don't want to hear any more of your lip."

She moaned.

I hoped I would kick her in the back in my sleep and mess up her spinal cord.