Chapter 1 - The Back Door
Completely defeated.
That was the only way to describe Amy’s face when I walked into that kitchen.
Her hair was pulled into a messy knot.
There were dark circles beneath her eyes.
Her blouse was wet where Frederick had been sweating against her chest.
And my one-year-old son looked miserable.
His cheeks were bright red.
His tiny body was curled against Amy as if he had no energy left to cry.
For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.
Amy looked up.
The plate in her hand slipped into the sink.
“Connor?”
Her voice sounded terrified.
Not relieved.
Terrified.
Like she thought she had done something wrong.
That frightened me more than anything else.
I put the cake on the counter.
“What happened?”
Amy immediately looked toward the dining room.
“Nothing.”
That answer told me everything.
I walked over and touched Frederick’s forehead.
He was burning.
“How high is his fever?”
“One hundred and two point four.”
My stomach tightened.
“How long?”
“Since this afternoon.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Amy lowered her voice.
“Your mother said you were in an important meeting.”
“I wasn’t.”
“She said you told her not to disturb you.”
I stared at her.
“I never said that.”
Amy’s face changed.
Behind us, laughter exploded from the dining room.
Twenty relatives were eating expensive food while my sick son had been sitting in a hot kitchen.
I looked at the dishes.
“Why are you doing this?”
Amy gave me a tired smile.
“Your mother said the caterer canceled.”
“There was a caterer?”
Her smile disappeared.
“She told me you knew.”
I felt something cold settle inside my chest.
Then Teresa’s voice came from the doorway.
“Well, look who finally decided to come home.”
I turned.
My mother stood there holding a glass of champagne.
Her new emerald dress probably cost more than Amy had spent on herself all year.
“Mom.”
She smiled.
“You’re early.”
I looked at Amy.
Then Frederick.
Then the mountain of dirty dishes.
“What is going on?”
Teresa rolled her eyes.
“It’s a birthday party.”
“My son has a fever.”
“Children get fevers.”
“And Amy is washing dishes.”
“Someone has to.”
I stared at her.
“You invited twenty people into my house and made my wife serve them?”
Her expression hardened.
“Watch your tone.”
“No.”
The word surprised even me.
Teresa blinked.
I took Frederick from Amy.
He whimpered and buried his face against my neck.
Then I looked toward the dining room.
“Everybody out.”
My mother laughed.
“What?”
I raised my voice.
“Party’s over.”
The dining room went silent.
Aunt Betsy appeared behind Teresa.
“Connor, don’t embarrass your mother.”
I looked at her.
“You told my wife she needed to earn her place?”
Betsy’s face drained.
Teresa stepped toward me.
“This is my family gathering.”
“This is my house.”
Her mouth tightened.
Then she smiled.
Not warmly.
Confidently.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
I stared at her.
Teresa took a slow sip of champagne.
May you like
“You may want to check the paperwork before you start throwing people out.”
---
