Chapter 15
My phone buzzed. Joshua.
I frowned, took a deep breath, and answered. “When are you coming back?” his voice was low.
I glanced at the clock:2 AM. Tired, and unwilling to drive another half hour. Rubbing my stiff neck, I said coldly, “What’s wrong?”
“Kevin wants you to read him bedtime stories.”
I stopped rubbing my neck. The image of Joshua comforting Julianna and holding Kevin earlier flashed through my mind, a pang of something sharp and bitter piercing my chest.
“I’m not going back tonight,” I said flatly, emotionless.“You can handle it.”
I hung up. He called again. Irritated, I switched off my phone, leaving it on the desk. I went to the lounge.
The studio had been renovated with a lounge in my office–a bathroom, clothes, essentials. Sometimes, when I worked late, I’d bring Kevin. He’d sleep here before I started work. His things were here, too.
I showered, changed into pajamas, and was about to sleep when I heard a child crying outside.
“Mom! Mom, please open the door!”
Kevin?
I rushed to the door. Through the glass, I saw Joshua holding a sobbing Kevin. Kevin was in a down jacket over pajamas, his feet bare. The winter night air was freezing. His weak constitution… a cold was a real possibility.
Annoyance flared. I opened the door.“Why did you bring him out so late…”
“Mom!”
He ran to me, burying his face in my neck, sobbing uncontrollably.“Mom, don’t you want me anymore? Please
don’t…”
My brow furrowed, my face paling. The familiar ache returned to my lower abdomen…
17:27
