My Sweet Charlie (original 1965; edition 1965)

To Dody, Fred and Eric

Marlene slid tight as she could against the car door, trying desperately to appear as if her sudden movement had nothing to do with the moist, doughy hand now lying flaccid and palm up, like something killed, on the seat a few inches from her thigh.

And she looked at him with great wisdom and tolerance and she said gently, "He was my daddy."