Chapter 31-1

He loved poker more than anything or anyone else, especially after his wife and son left him. It was easy for Marley's father to lose himself instead of face his problems. So every night became poker night. He used to have this set group of friends who'd play with him every Saturday night, but when it became a nightly obsession, he had to find new friends who were willing to play more often. Most of the time, he was gone to one of their houses, arriving home via cab stumbling and rowdy. On the nights that he hosted, Marley made him a cold cut platter before making herself scarce. It wasn't hard to convince him that she couldn't stick around, because her father has never been the sharpest knife in the drawer. In all of her high school years, she did History in night school. Even on the weekends! Her father would complain, but when it came to her school, he was the most understanding person in the world. It was