A Three-Dollar Lie

Avery

Piper's car was still in the driveway when I pulled in. Through the window, I could see her at the kitchen table, laptop open, phone pressed to her ear. She looked exhausted.

Inside, the house smelled like cinnamon and vanilla. My mother must have been baking again.

"Mommy!" Noah's shriek preceded him as he launched himself from the living room, crashing into my legs with enough force to mak