Page 67 (1/2)

Malcolm

There it was again, soh roaned, and rolled over to turn on the la was followed by a knock, or I thought it was a knock I looked at the clock It was al Who the hell would be at ain

“Fuck!”

Throwing the covers back,to put on I shovedto button theain

“Whoever the fuck is down there better be near death ringingbell like that!”

I bounded down the steps, flipping on the light in the hall as I walked toward the door I unlocked it, ready to cuss out whoever was on the other side All annoyance drained ahen I saw Calida She stood onan over-sized T-shirt, and a pair of shorts She held a sleeping Shawn cradled in her arms

I took a long blink, certain I had to be drea?”

“Yes No I don’t know…can I come in?” Her voice held a raspy undertone

I shook the fog from my head “Yeah, yeah…of course” I stepped to the side

She walked in, softly cooing to Shaho’d started to wake

“Here, leton an answer

I turned to take him upstairs She didn’t move She simply stood in the foyer The playpen Macy’d left here remained set up in the room meant for Shawn He fussed when I put hiet hihts raced with reasons for her being here She’d been ignoring my attempts to reach her since she sent me home Monday

I’d spent the last two days talking ured it would be pointless, since she probably wouldn’t open the daate to let me in On top of that, I needed to respect her wishes, and she’d made them clear She wanted to be left alone But now she was here, in the ht

Pulling the door closed behind ain The only light ca on the bed, her head hanging as she picked at her nails When I leaned against the doorframe, the knob hit the wall The sound caused her to look up She gave me a weak smile, and tucked her hair behind her ear

Taking careful steps, Iokay?” She nodded in response “You have a key and a garage door opener”