Free 3 Straight by the Rules by Michelle Scott

managed to keep clients despite the fact that he is the most honest, and therefore, the most unsuccessful tax attorney in the Detroit metro area.  Usually, Evelyn was so composed that I’d often wondered if she’d been royalty in a past life.  But today, her poise was missing.  “Pay attention, Jasmine!” she snapped.
    Furious, Jas dumped the ruined food into the garbage and left the kitchen in a huff.  Ariel puffed out her cheeks as she surveyed the rising smoke.  “This party’s going to be lots of fun,” she muttered.
    “Happy birthday, Lilith,” Evelyn said, struggling to regain her calm.  “Your father and Tommy are watching TV in the den.”
    Ariel, only too happy to leave crisis central, bolted out of the room to find Tommy.
    Evelyn scoured the scorch marks off the cookie sheet.  “How is everything at home?”
    This was her polite way of asking what the hell was wrong with Jasmine.  “Tommy moved out.  He said he needed some space.”
    The corners of Evelyn’s mouth turned down.  She didn’t know the entire history of me, Tommy, and Jasmine, of course, but she was an intuitive person.  Back when Ted and I had still been together, she’d sensed trouble in our marriage long before anyone else.  Including me.
    “Where is Tommy staying now?” Evelyn asked.
    “He’s sleeping on the couch in Neil’s office.”
    This time, her lips compressed into a hard line.  “That’s no good.  You tell him he’s welcome to stay here with Simon and me.  He should be sleeping in a real bed.”
    Jasmine, red-eyed but calmer, came into the kitchen, and Evelyn and I broke off our conversation.  “I don’t want you working on your birthday,” Evelyn said and shooed me away before I could argue.
    In the den, my dad was enthroned in his well-worn recliner next to a table piled with books and magazines.  Tommy sat next to Ari who read from her well-worn copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe .  When he saw me, he smiled like a high school kid who realizes his prom date hasn’t ditched him after all.  “Hello, Lilith!  I’ve missed you so much!”  Then, realizing how enthusiastic he sounded, a shadow of concern passed over his eyes.  “I mean, it’s good to see you,” he amended.
    My dad’s eyes narrowed.
    I kissed the top of my dad’s head.  “Happy birthday.”  I set Helen’s tea, which I’d wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a pretty gift bag, on his lap.  Instead of opening it, he mumbled a thank you and placed the present next to him on the floor.
    My dad was wearing what I’d always thought of as his warrior’s face.  Part grimness, part fierce concentration, it was an expression that meant something deeply troubled him.  Luckily, it was not an expression I saw very often.
    Wanting to draw him out, I picked up the top book in the stack next to him: a nonfiction title about economic policy in the Middle East.  “Is this any good?”
    “I haven’t started it,” he said bluntly and continued staring at the TV.
    I set the book back down.  “Are you okay?”
    He glanced at Tommy, and his face tightened.  “I’m fine.”
    Pressing him was pointless.  My dad rarely shared his feelings.  All I could do was pat his shoulder and hope his troubles worked themselves out.
    Evelyn called us to lunch.  To my horror, an enormous plate of sushi dominated the dining room table.  After what I’d been through the previous night, it was the very last thing I wanted.  The smell turned my stomach.
    Ari made gagging noises.  “What is that?”
    “Simon ordered this especially for today,” Evelyn said.  This surprised me since my dad enjoyed steak and potatoes more than rice and nori.  Usually, he only wanted sushi when he felt nostalgic.
    Ariel crossed her arms over her chest.  “Well, I’m not eating it.”
    “I told you they wouldn’t like it, Dad,” Jasmine said.
    Evelyn and Jas took a little sushi then poked at their food.  My dad placed several rolls on