Chapter 1 - WE COOKED IT
Claire Bennett rushed into the dining room holding Daisy’s red ribbon.
“WHERE IS DAISY?!”
Linda Bennett did not look up.
She kept chewing.
The steaming hot pot sat in the middle of the table.
Ryan stared at his plate.
Robert took another bite.
Linda tilted her chin toward the pot.
“We cooked it.”
Claire’s face collapsed.
She shoved the hot pot away.
“YOU ATE MY PET?!”
Linda rolled her eyes.
“Oh, grow up.”
She pointed her fork.
“It was a stupid duck.”
Ryan shrugged.
Robert chuckled.
Linda leaned back.
“If not that one, there’s always another.”
Claire stopped trembling.
Slowly.
Her grief hardened.
She removed her wedding ring.
SLAMMED it onto the table.
Then pulled divorce papers from her bag.
Ryan’s head snapped up.
Claire threw them at his chest.
He caught them.
“What the hell?”
Claire grabbed her suitcase and walked toward the front door.
Ryan chased after her.
“You’re divorcing me… just because of a DUCK?!”
Claire stopped at the doorway.
Turned.
Eyes wet.
Face cold.
Then, from outside, came a faint quack.
Everyone froze.
Claire opened the door.
Across the neighbor’s yard stood Daisy.
Alive.
White feathers.
Red bow missing.
Claire turned back.
Ryan was not surprised.
Neither was Linda.
That was when Claire understood.
May you like
The hot pot was not the lie.
The entire dinner was.
