“The keys are in the ignition,” I tell Gavin, following at Jonathan’s heels without seeking out Hal.My focus remains on Jonathan’s back as he strides to his truck, throwing the duffel in the bed.
Feet stomp down the porch steps.
Jonathan unlocks the truck as I near the passenger side.
My car starts in the distance.
I reach for the handle.
Jonathan opens his door.
My car backs up and swings toward us.Illuminating the pickup.
Jonathan’s door slams.But he’s not inside.
I remain motionless on the other side of the truck.
Hal’s fist collides with Jonathan’s jaw.
Keys fall to the ground.
My car’s engine revs.
Everything is frozen.Seconds tick.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
“If you leave right now, you can never come back.”
The air is a mist of breath.Mine.Jonathan’s.Hal’s.
The car revs again, expelling a cloud of exhaust in the darkness.
Eyes peer out a window in the distance.
The driver’s door opens across from me.
“Your choice, son.Come back”—his voice lowers, but his words cut through the frigid winter night—“and I will kill you.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
The cab of the truck is silentas it rocks down the dirt drive.
Jonathan’s chin is quaking.His eyes remain fixated on the road.I swipe at tears.My heart pounds in my chest, not recognizing we’re out of danger.
Are we out of danger?
I slide as close as I can get to Jonathan without interfering with the stick shift.I want to touch him.To hold him.He’s barely holding it together.I remain by his side and hope that’s enough—for now.
“Let’s go to Collin’s.”My voice’s barely above a whisper.
Jonathan nods imperceptibly.
Jane’s car isn’t in the driveway when we pull up.It’s what I was hoping.
Collin is waiting behind the glass door, cowlicks sprung up and his eyes heavy with sleep.He holds the door open when we silently march toward him, each carrying a bag.I’m first to enter with Gavin being the last.
“There are blankets and pillows on the couch downstairs.Jane gets home at seven, so we’ll deal with that then.But I think she’s been expecting this.”
