Chapter 1 - The Curl in His Fist
Leo stumbled out of the silver SUV before Brenda had fully stopped the engine.
His navy sneaker caught on the edge of the driveway, and he dropped to one knee. When he looked up, Amy saw the rough patches across his scalp. The golden curls she had kissed that morning were gone.
Her five-year-old son was sobbing so hard he could barely breathe.
In his right fist, he clutched one severed curl.
Amy crossed the lawn without remembering the front steps. “Leo, sweetheart. Come to me.”
Brenda stepped from the driver’s side wearing the satisfied expression she usually saved for a clean kitchen or a winning church raffle.
“There,” she said. “Now he looks like a real boy.”
Amy crouched and drew Leo against her denim jacket. He flinched when she touched the back of his head.
“What did you do?”
“Don’t make this ugly,” Brenda replied. “His hair was becoming embarrassing.”
“You took him out of kindergarten.”
“I’m his grandmother.”
“You told the school there was an emergency.”
Brenda’s mouth tightened. “His father put me on the pickup list.”
Amy looked at her.
Mark had promised Brenda’s access had been removed months ago, after she repeatedly ignored their rules during Lily’s treatment.
Leo opened his fist just enough for Amy to see the curl pressed against his damp palm.
“Grandma cut my promise to Lily,” he whispered.
Brenda glanced away.
Not confused. Not curious.
She knew exactly what he meant.
Amy carried Leo inside and locked the door while Brenda continued talking from the driveway about disrespect, overreaction and family rights. Leo remained on the couch with his fist closed against his chest.
When Mark arrived from work, he stopped in the entryway.
His lunch cooler slipped from his hand.
He knelt beside Leo and studied the uneven cut without speaking. Then Leo repeated the sentence about Lily.
Mark’s eyes moved immediately to Amy.
There was recognition in them.
“You knew about the promise,” Amy said.
Mark gathered Leo into his arms. “I knew part of it.”
“And did you know your mother could still take him from school?”
May you like
He lowered his head.
That silence answered the first question and created a worse one.
