Chapter 4 – The First Night
Drew and Lily arrived at Peter’s house three days later.
The cast on Drew’s leg extended from below his knee to his ankle. He used a small pair of crutches but moved cautiously, as though expecting the floor itself to betray him.
Lily refused to release Peter’s hand.
Naomi stood on the porch with two hospital bags and a folder of emergency instructions.
“This is a temporary kinship placement,” she reminded Peter. “The court will review it regularly.”
Peter nodded.
He had heard the explanation three times.
Temporary custody.
Medical appointments.
Therapy.
Supervised contact only if approved.
No discussion of the criminal case in front of the children unless a therapist recommended it.
Drew stared at the open front door.
“You can go inside,” Peter said.
The boy did not move.
“What’s wrong?”
“Does it lock from the outside?”
Peter understood.
He opened the door fully.
Then he showed Drew the lock.
“It locks from inside. You can unlock it anytime.”
“What about the bedroom?”
“No locks.”
“The bathroom?”
“The bathroom has a privacy lock, but anyone inside can open it.”
Drew looked at Naomi.
She confirmed it.
“There are no locked rooms here,” she said.
Only then did he step inside.
Peter had prepared separate bedrooms.
Drew’s room had blue blankets, a desk, books, and a shelf for model cars.
Lily’s room had pale yellow walls, stuffed animals, and a small canopy over the bed.
Lily looked inside.
Then she walked directly into Drew’s room.
“I sleep here.”
Peter glanced at Naomi.
She nodded slightly.
“For now,” Peter said. “We can move your mattress in.”
Lily’s mattress was placed beside Drew’s bed.
That first evening, Peter made chicken soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and sliced apples.
The children stared at the table.
“You can eat whatever you want,” he told them.
Drew waited.
“For how long?”
Peter frowned.
“How long what?”
“How long do we have to finish?”
“As long as you need.”
“What happens if we don’t eat everything?”
“Nothing.”
Drew looked suspicious.
“Nothing?”
“You can stop when you’re full.”
Lily picked up half a sandwich.
She took one bite.
Then another.
Then she wrapped the rest in a napkin and pushed it under her shirt.
Peter pretended not to notice.
After dinner, he gave each child a basket.
“This one is yours,” he explained. “You can keep food in it. Nobody will take it.”
He placed the baskets on the lower pantry shelf.
Drew looked inside his.
Granola bars.
Crackers.
Fruit cups.
Small cereal boxes.
“Every day?” he asked.
“Every day.”
“What if we eat all of it?”
“I’ll refill it.”
“What if Lily eats mine?”
“I’ll refill it.”
“What if—”
“Drew.”
The boy stopped.
“There will always be food here.”
Drew stared at the basket for a long time.
That night, Peter left the hallway lights on.
He placed the moon-shaped night-light near the mattresses.
He read two stories.
Then three.
Drew insisted he was not tired.
Lily fell asleep holding the repaired wooden truck.
Peter sat in the hallway after turning out the main light.
An hour passed.
Then another.
At midnight, he heard movement.
Drew was crawling toward the bedroom door.
Peter rose.
“Need help?”
The boy froze.
“I was just checking.”
“Checking what?”
“That the door opens.”
Peter opened it.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
“You can check whenever you need.”
Drew returned to bed.
At two in the morning, Lily screamed.
Peter reached the room in seconds.
She stood in the corner, shaking, her eyes unfocused.
“Door,” she cried. “Door shut.”
“It’s open,” Peter said.
She did not seem to hear him.
Drew woke and tried to climb from the bed.
“I’ve got her,” Peter said. “Stay there.”
He knelt several feet from Lily, remembering the therapist’s instructions.
Do not grab.
Do not crowd.
Speak slowly.
“You’re at Uncle Peter’s house.”
Lily pressed her back against the wall.
“The basement is gone.”
She shook her head.
“No dark.”
“I’ll turn on every light.”
He did.
Bedroom.
Hallway.
Bathroom.
Kitchen.
He returned and sat on the floor.
Lily watched him.
“You don’t have to come to me,” he said. “I’ll sit right here.”
After several minutes, she crossed the room.
She climbed into his lap and buried her face against his shirt.
Peter held her gently.
Drew watched from the bed.
“Are you going to send us away because she woke you up?”
Peter looked at him.
“No.”
“What if she does it tomorrow?”
“No.”
“What if she does it every night?”
“Then I’ll wake up every night.”
Drew’s mouth trembled.
Peter carried Lily back to the mattress.
Then he lay on the floor between the two children.
He did not sleep.
Just before sunrise, Drew spoke into the darkness.
“Uncle Peter?”
“Yeah?”
“Did Dad know Reena was bad?”
Peter answered carefully.
“No. Your dad believed she loved you.”
“He was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“Are you ever wrong?”
Peter stared at the ceiling.
“All the time.”
Drew became quiet.
Then he whispered, “What happens when you’re wrong about us?”
Peter turned his head.
“I’m not deciding whether you’re good enough to stay.”
Drew’s eyes glistened in the night-light.
“You’re already family.”
The boy said nothing more.
May you like
But a few minutes later, his small hand slipped from the edge of the bed.
Peter reached up and held it until morning.
