GRACE

“Okay Ruby,” I leaned closer to ensure that eye contact was maintained, “you have to come clean.” I have to remain stern and show her my seriousness. “Did you eat out of the chocolates?” With puppy eyes, Ruby shook her head. I glanced at the brown smudge on the side of her lips and scoffed in disbelief.

“You did not eat out of it,” I uttered, the tone of my voice barely carrying a whiff of inquiry.

And she sharply responded with, “No.”

“How do you explain this then?” I slammed two wrappers of Snickers chocolate onto the kitchen counter and stared squarely at the little girl whose eyes...