Wrong Chat Right Man

Molly Hayes knew the exact sound a lie made when it arrived in a town that still pretended gossip was community care. It came in bright little pings. It came dressed as concern. It came while she was flipping Sunday pancakes one-handed, holding her phone between chin and shoulder, and telling seven other mothers that yes, of course she had remembered the raffle tickets, the gluten-free buns, and the permission slips for the children who were allergic to everything except chaos.