Spitting in his ear, she raged on. “Don’t hide be- hind that child! Don’t make like she’s frightened of just me. She’s frightened of THIS! Of you! Of my father. Our history. Everything!”

Refusing to look at her and refusing to answer, he scooped in another scoop, shaking the bottle to force forward a strong stream that pooled up from the bottom of the broad bowl. “You are disgusting. That’s so sick! THAT is an addic- tion! You’re gonna eat all that now? That’s how you deal with life’s problems? Why don't put on your big boy pants and get all this settled. Don’t walk away again!”