before Clarice and Odette had begun their farewells to the bleary-eyed man at the table. Outside, they stood in front of the house looking at each other. Clarice couldn’t stand the silence. She lied the way she’d been taught to do after meeting someone’s unpleasant relative. “Your stepfather seems nice.” Odette rolled her eyes. Barbara Jean said, “He’s not my stepfather. He’s my mother’s … He’s nothing is what he is.” They walked about a half a block together, quiet again. Barbara Jean spoke after a while. “Listen, I appreciate you getting me out of the house. I
