“What? No.” She looks terrified. Perhaps of the dark. Perhaps of what I might do, that I might change my mind. “Please don’t leave me down here alone.”
I glare at her. “It’s the only way. Do you want to see your daughter grow up? Conrad and Cory, too? They’ll be home from school soon. Do you want to make it back to them?”
Her chin quivers as she nods.
“Then get down there and be quiet.”
I’m sliding the chest back into place when the front door opens a few minutes later. She’ll be okay. It’s dark down there, but it’s safe. As long as she is quiet, she’ll be okay.
I rush back into the living room, lightning flowing through my veins.
I have to stay calm if I’m going to survive this. I have to be smart.
The girls have stopped painting when Charles finds them. He bends down, looking over their artwork. “Well, aren’t these pretty?” He winks at me, then stands and kisses my cheek. “Just like your mama.”
I lean into his kiss.
It could be this easy. I could choose him. Choose this. I could tell him where Nancy is and let him handle it. I could choose this family and get everything I want.
I squeeze my eyes closed, imagining it. The girls could be mine. Even if I don’t tell him about Nancy, I could keep her down there until he leaves again and send her away. She isn’t strong enough to fight me. I don’t owe her anything.
“Mommy? Who was that lady?”
Billie’s tiny voice rips my eyes open.
“What lady?” Charles asks, frozen. Defensive already.
“The lady Mommy was talking to.”
My breathing grows shallow.Think. Think. Think.“Oh. She’s talking about earlier. A woman came by; she was trying to sell makeup. I sent her away. Told her we’re not interested.” I reach out and brush a bit of Billie’s hair from her face. “It’s all okay, honey.”
She draws out a long pause, eyes searching mine, and I pray with everything in me she’ll let it go. To my great relief, she just sticks her tongue between the corner of her lips and goes back to painting.
Charles watches me. I force a smile, willing it to reach my eyes as I try to mask the doubt clawing at my throat.
“Supper isn’t on the table?”
“Just about. I didn’t expect you home for another hour.”
“Finished early.” He kisses my cheek again, patting my bottom. “Billie, get this all cleaned up and help your mother set the table while Daddy hops in the shower.”
When the bathroom door closes moments later, tears line my eyes.
I know, no matter how much I’d like to lie to myself, no matter what happens next, this is the last time it will ever be like this.
After the girls go to bed, I ask him. I need to know the truth. I need to either hear him say it or watch him lie to me.
“Have you heard from Nancy lately?”
He doesn’t look up from his seat next to the fireplace, still flipping through his newspaper. “Nancy?”
Is he honestly pretending not to know which Nancy I mean?
“I used to see her around town. You know, before. I just…I can’t believe she doesn’t ever want to see Violet.”
He’s still for a moment, then slowly closes the paper and turns his head to look at me. “Where is this coming from?”
“It’s just a question.” I cross the room and crouch down, gathering the girls’ toys from the floor.
