The door finally creaked open, and I braced myself for her entrance.
But it was just my youngest, peering out with curiosity mixed with worry.
“Is he really okay?” he asked in a whisper.
I nodded, offering a small smile.
“He’s fine, just playing a game.”
Reassured, he backed away, leaving me once more with my thoughts.
The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting long shadows across the yard.
Time seemed to slow, each minute dragging into the next.
I contemplated the dinner ahead.
The inevitable confrontations.
