Play Your Part

What came first was the shock before the sting of the slap, which echoed throughout the living room.

"How dare you!" Grace shouted, her eyes staring daggers at Laura.

Laura's was so angry that her voice was very low as she said, "Don't you ever talk about my babies again, and don't you think for once that I am unaware of whatever you did that night?"

"What is going on here?" Jerry Phillips asked as he came down the stairs, Anna and Lucy right behind him.

"Dad, you won't believe what she did to me," Grace lamented, making a sad face as Jerry approached them.

"Good morning, dad. I have to ask you a question," Laura said by way of greeting.

Anna turned to Lucy and said, "Lucy, please make us coffee."

"Alright, Mrs. Phillips," Lucy replied, looking from Grace to Laura, the tension in the room evident on their faces. Lucy knew that was Anna's way of telling her to get out of the room.

As soon as Lucy was out of earshot, Jerry turned to Laura and asked, "What did you do to your sister? Have