"My knee is all better. Can we read now?"

Lexie looked down at her and smiled. A sweet, soft smile that reached her eyes. She patted the fresh bandage over the cut on Trisha's knee from her stumble in the woods. "Do your mom and dad know you're here?"

It was wrong to lie. Trisha knew that. But she wasn't hurting anyone. Brad wasn't coming to play today. Mommy and Daddy were busy with the apples. She nodded her head to Lexie's question.

"We can read, then. I have ...