Dexie’s face was genuinely innocent. She reached out and patted Roger hard on the shoulder, almost breaking his bones. “Dad, I believe in you.”

Realizing that she was done with her rousing performance and that it was, in fact, dramatic enough, Dexie decided not to waste any more time with Roger. Then she got up from the couch and left.

“I’m a little sleepy. I’m going to sleep first. Goodnight, Dad.”

It was the first time Roger had seen Dexie be so well-behaved this month, but it ...