The gray called and I answered.

Didn't matter Ethie hated me for not saving her father. My daughter's fury and tears did nothing to reach through the newly reinforced layers of safety from feeling I'd managed to create. She could scream at me and throw things all she wanted. Her father was going to die and there was nothing I was going to do about it.

Could have, maybe. If I cared. I didn't.

Not even that she'd ...