Chapter 1 - THE NIGHT HE LEFT
“Will you be back before bedtime?”
Lucy Mercer was six years old when she asked her father that question.
Daniel stood in the hallway with a black suitcase in his hand. His daughter had wrapped both arms around his leg, her little face tilted toward him.
Behind her, Joanna stood perfectly still.
She was waiting for his answer, too.
Daniel looked down at Lucy.
“I don't know, sweetheart.”
Lucy frowned.
“But tomorrow?”
He swallowed.
“We'll see.”
Joanna closed her eyes.
We'll see.
Two words that sounded harmless until you understood they were being used to avoid a promise.
“Daddy, you have to come back,” Lucy insisted. “Tomorrow is my school picture day.”
Daniel crouched and kissed her forehead.
“Be good for Mommy.”
Then he gently untangled her arms from his leg.
Lucy began crying.
“Daddy, wait!”
Daniel stood.
Joanna looked at him.
“Don't do this.”
His face hardened.
“I need to go.”
“Then tell your daughter the truth.”
He glanced toward Lucy.
“Joanna, please.”
“No. You don't get to walk out and leave me to explain why.”
Daniel gripped the suitcase handle.
“I'll call.”
Then he opened the front door.
And left.
Lucy ran after him.
“Daddy!”
Joanna caught her before she reached the porch.
They stood together beneath the yellow hallway light, listening to Daniel's car start.
His headlights swept across the front windows.
Then disappeared.
Lucy looked up at her mother.
“Did I do something bad?”
Joanna felt her heart break.
She knelt and pulled her daughter close.
“No, baby.”
“Then why did Daddy leave?”
Joanna held her tighter.
“Because Daddy made a decision.”
Lucy began sobbing.
“Can he change it?”
Joanna looked toward the empty driveway.
“I don't know, sweetheart.”
Behind them, Owen stood in the kitchen doorway.
He was nine.
Old enough to understand more than anyone wanted him to.
He looked at the four plates on the dinner table.
Then at his mother.
“Is Dad coming back?”
Joanna opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Owen nodded slowly.
As though her silence had answered everything.
Then he walked to the table.
Picked up Daniel's plate.
And carried it to the sink.
Joanna watched him.
May you like
Her little boy was already trying to become the man of the house.
And that frightened her more than anything.
