Hank didn't come home last night. I wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time. But as I was finishing up in the bathroom, I saw him walking in with breakfast in hand, and trailing right behind him was Susie. When he saw me, he placed the breakfast on the dining table, and for once, offered an explanation. "We stayed out late last night. Susie was scared to be alone, so I sent her home. It was already the middle of the night, so I just slept over." Susie, clinging to his arm, chimed in, her tone laced with mock innocence. "That's right, Pearl. You're not mad, are you?" I nodded without speaking. Hank seemed to pick up on my coldness, and with a rare gentleness in his voice, he placed the breakfast down and tried again. "Didn't you say you've been wanting to see that new movie? I have time today, I can take you."That movie—praised by everyone since its release—had been something I asked him about, again and again. Each time, he'd turned me down, claiming he was too
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