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As I said that, Mo full of food containers She’d been cooking up a storm so that I wouldn’t have to for a few days

“Yes, Collin, I told her to call or at the very least send us a text hts just to be sure”

“Yep, otherwise Mo out the National Guard So, see, fine”

He still looked unconvinced Daddy was normally the rock of the family Mo his concerns and fears behind his playful overprotectiveness

Mom had been a wreck when they’d arrived from Greece, and he slipped back into that et us through the crisis This time, he let his worry show, and that bothered ht it would My parents should have been enjoying their golden years instead of worrying and taking care of e in my life

I placed the food on the passenger’s seat before giving the forward to alone tih I already knew Macy would be by later; she’d said so after she learned I was going hoht after I was released froain mid-week While I’d appreciated her visits, I was also a bit skeptical Macy was the only person that didn’t drillout what happened, and that was unlike her I tried not to overthink it, and instead would enjoy hanging out with my friend while the kids played

When I got to the house, I sat outside the gate, staring at it My beautiful prison When I’d first seen this place, it had made me happy because it was somewhere different A different location made it easier forother than what it was, to pretend Seth wasn’t who he really was Pretending I’d gotten good at that over the years Thought I’d had it perfected Obviously, I needed to do better

A quick glance in the rearview ht a smile to my face Shawn slept in the backseat, not a worry in the world If only we could all have it that easy Pressing the ho sloith a squeal The second button was pressed to open the garage door I pulled into my spot Same place I’d parked since day one These walls held a lot—fear, anger, sadness, but most importantly they held familiarity I knehat to expect within these walls I took comfort in the solace they afforded me

We were ho up Shae headed to the front door, expecting it to be Macy, but it wasn’t A low groan passed my lips as I watched Dorian’s little blue sports car come up the drive Why was I cursed with two unannounced visits in such a short ti in his excitement I took in a quick breath, as his excited e

“Why are you here? And why didn’t you call first?”

Dorian reached out to take Shaas fighting to get to her “At least he’s happy to see me”

“He’s too young to know any better”

No rebuttal ca I hadn’t spoken “I called Mom and Dad,” she finally said “They told ht want to consider soet the wrong idea”

She sat Shan next to his toy box before taking a seat on the sofa I sat opposite her on the loveseat, waiting on an answer as to why she was here

“I don’t really care what people think, but I’” Despite my words, my hand went to the bruise Even a week later, it still re