Carissa inhaled a deep breath, then expelled it slowly. "Then let's talk. How's your father doing?"

"I want to talk about us. Not my father or anyone else."

"Okay." She licked her lips and readjusted her hold on the steering wheel.

"Before I went home, you told me you'd be there for me, that I could count on you. You lied to me." He dropped the accusation as calmly as if he were talking about the weather.

"I didn't lie. I needed time to ...