Chapter 2 - I took Perry out of the house
I did not stay to hear Reid’s full explanation.
Perry was trembling.
That came first.
I packed:
Two nights of clothes.
Medication.
His school things.
His dinosaur.
Phone charger.
Perry never let go of my hand.
Reid followed me upstairs.
“Where are you going?”
“My sister’s.”
“You can’t just take him.”
I turned.
“I am taking our child away from the house where you arranged for him to be locked in a closet.”
“I did not tell Mom to do what she did tonight.”
“Did you put the blanket there?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her to put him in there?”
“Yes, but—”
“Did you tell her to lock the door?”
His face collapsed.
That was enough.
I picked up the bag.
He said:
“It was supposed to be a timeout.”
“With a locked door.”
“Five minutes.”
“That is not making it better.”
Perry was listening from the hall.
I stopped.
No more interrogation in front of him.
I knelt.
“We’re going to Aunt Mae’s.”
He whispered:
“Daddy coming?”
I looked at Reid.
“No. Not tonight.”
Perry’s eyes filled.
May you like
He loved his father.
That made everything harder.
