Chapter 17 - The Knock on the DoorA sharp, crisp rap echoed against the front door.
Maya popped her head out of the living room, holding Chloe on her hip. "Expecting a package, Em?"
"No," I said, setting my pen down on the kitchen counter. "Maybe it's the landscaper."
I walked down the hallway, glancing briefly at the live security monitor mounted by the mudroom. The 4K camera displayed a crisp, clear image of the front porch.
Standing on the doormat wasn't a landscaper.
It was a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, wearing a simple gray trench coat, holding a small cardboard box. It took me a few seconds to recognize her—not because she looked different, but because the arrogant, immaculate veneer she used to wear was entirely gone.
It was Ryan’s mother, Eleanor.
I hadn't spoken to her since the day of the wedding anniversary dinner, three years ago, when she had scolded me for not managing Ryan’s schedule better.
I reached out and unlocked the heavy wooden door, pulling it open.
May you like
Eleanor flinched as the door swung wide, her eyes welling up with immediate, humiliating tears. She looked older, her hair completely gray, the weight of her son’s utter disgrace crushing her shoulders.
"Emily," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Can... can I come in for just five minutes?"
Related Stories
