Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE THAT HAD FORGOTTEN HIM
The key still worked.
Daniel pushed open the front door.
“Joanna?”
Nothing.
The entry bench was gone.
The mirror was gone.
The coat hooks had been removed.
He walked into the living room.
Empty.
No couch.
No television.
No family photographs.
The house smelled of dust and old paint.
“Kids?”
His voice echoed.
He climbed the stairs.
Owen's room was bare.
Only a pencil mark remained beside the closet.
OWEN — 9 YEARS, 6 MONTHS
Daniel touched it.
He had no idea how tall his son was now.
Across the hall, Lucy's room was empty.
One glow-in-the-dark star remained on the ceiling.
He stared at it.
Then sat on the floor.
The roses slipped from his hand.
For several minutes, he couldn't move.
Finally, he called Joanna.
The number rang.
Then voicemail.
He called again.
Nothing.
He sent a message.
I'm home.
No reply.
He stared at the screen.
Then typed:
Where are you?
An hour passed.
Finally, a message appeared.
Daniel, that house was sold eight months ago. Please contact my attorney if you need anything regarding the divorce.
Daniel stared.
Sold?
Divorce?
He called immediately.
Joanna answered.
“What?”
His voice shook.
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
He looked around the empty rooms.
“No, you're not.”
There was a long silence.
Then Joanna said:
“Daniel, that hasn't been our home for a long time.”
His chest tightened.
“Where are the kids?”
“They're safe.”
“I want to see them.”
She exhaled.
“Then we need to discuss arrangements.”
“Joanna, I'm standing in our house.”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“You're standing in a house we used to live in.”
Daniel looked toward the empty staircase.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Joanna was silent.
Then she asked:
May you like
“Would you have listened?”
He couldn't answer.
