I stopped her immediately. "Those are for Tommy. There's only one container. Don't touch them."

Bernice rolled her eyes. "It's just a kid having a snack. Do you really have to be this stingy?"

"Daisy can have something else. I'll buy her the same ones later. There are other snacks and fruit in the bag."

Daisy's lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, kicking her feet against the seat back.

"I want these! I want these!"

Bernice cooed at her daughter while tearing the package open. "It's one little box of crackers, Astrid. You're really going to die on this hill?"

She yanked too hard. Puffs spilled everywhere, crumbs scattering across the seats and floor.

She handed what was left in the container to Daisy and scooped the ones off the seat cushion into her own palm, popping them into her mouth.

"Mmm, I'll give it to the imported stuff. These are good."

She finished the puffs and went back for the rest of the snacks and fruit, helping herself to everything.

Daisy's fingers were smeared with grease and juice. She wiped them all over Tommy's comfort bear, streaking the soft fabric with sticky residue.

My chest burned. A tight, searing knot of fury sat right behind my ribs.

I'd barely managed to swallow it down when Morton pulled a cigarette from his pocket. The lighter clicked.

Acrid smoke flooded the car in seconds.

I clamped my hand over Tommy's nose and mouth and snapped:

"There's a kid in the car—how can you smoke in here?!"

Morton couldn't have cared less. He deliberately blew a smoke ring toward me and Tommy, then let out a scornful laugh.

"What kind of man doesn't smoke? Might as well toughen the little guy up early."

Bernice chimed right in.

"Only your kid's precious, apparently. Daisy's sitting right here and she's fine."

The cigarette smoke and all the noise set Tommy off again. He started wailing.

I scrambled to soothe him, but Bernice was already complaining.

"God, that's annoying! Can you control your son?"

"This new car of yours is cramped. So uncomfortable. My friend's car has way more room."

"If I'd known it was going to be this tight, I never would've gotten in. And I definitely wouldn't have put up with your attitude."

My scalp prickled with rage. It felt like a boulder had lodged itself in my chest.

I turned to Lambert.

"Pull over at the next rest stop. I'm getting out."

Bernice jumped in before he could answer, her voice dripping with mockery.