Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Unlock the Door
“Put the phone by your mama’s mouth,” Dad said.
Noah obeyed.
“Lena,” my father said, softer now. “Listen to me. Don’t move. I’m calling 911 on my other phone. I’m coming too.”
I tried to answer, but pain cut the air into pieces.
“No talking,” Dad said. “Tap once if Evan did this.”
My fingers touched the tile once.
The silence that followed was heavier than shouting.
Then Dad spoke again, calm and firm.
“Noah, buddy, go unlock the front door. Then come right back to your mom. Don’t go outside.”
Noah ran.
I heard the chain slide. The deadbolt turn. His socks slipped against the hallway floor as he hurried back.
Then another sound came from outside.
A truck engine.
My body went cold.
Noah’s eyes widened.
“Mama,” he whispered. “Daddy’s back.”
The front door opened.
Evan stepped inside like he still owned the air.
His boots stopped at the kitchen entrance. His eyes moved from the broken glass, to me on the floor, to the glowing phone in Noah’s hand.
For the first time that night, Evan looked afraid.
Not guilty.
Afraid.
“Who did you call?” he asked.
Noah backed closer to me.
May you like
And from the phone speaker, my father’s voice answered.
“Me.”
