Chapter 2 - THE FIRST NIGHT
By noon, Sarah had already broken every rule Richard thought mattered.
She didn't force the boys to eat.
She didn't threaten them.
She didn't raise her voice.
She didn't confiscate their toys.
And most strangely of all, she didn't seem impressed by the mansion.
She sat on the kitchen floor with the four boys around her while they repaired Thomas's stuffed rabbit.
"You need a needle," Sarah said.
"I know where one is," Daniel announced.
Richard, watching from the doorway, immediately said, "Absolutely not."
Daniel froze.
Sarah glanced at Richard.
"He knows where one is."
"He also knows where the kitchen knives are."
Daniel smiled.
Richard pointed at him.
"Don't."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
Sarah stood.
"Why don't we do it together?"
The boys followed her.
Richard watched in disbelief as Sarah taught four restless boys how to sew.
For twenty minutes, the house remained quiet.
Then Marcus asked, "Why did our mom leave?"
Richard stiffened.
Sarah looked at him.
He shook his head.
Not here.
Not now.
Sarah turned back to the boys.
"That's a question your father should answer."
Richard swallowed.
The boys looked at him.
Four pairs of eyes.
Four faces that reminded him painfully of Eleanor.
Richard sat down.
"I don't know."
Marcus frowned.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Did she say goodbye?"
Richard stared at the floor.
"No."
"Did she say where she was going?"
"No."
"Did she say she loved us?"
Richard's throat tightened.
"No."
Silence.
Then Thomas whispered, "Maybe she didn't."
Richard closed his eyes.
Sarah looked at the boys.
"Sometimes adults leave because they are dealing with things children don't understand."
Marcus asked, "Like what?"
"Fear."
Richard looked at Sarah sharply.
She didn't explain.
That evening, something happened that had never happened before.
All four boys ate dinner together.
No screaming.
No throwing food.
No fighting.
Richard sat at the opposite end of the table.
He watched Sarah serve mashed potatoes.
"You know," he said, "this is suspicious."
Sarah smiled.
"What's suspicious?"
"My children."
Marcus laughed.
It was a small laugh.
But it was a laugh.
Richard stared at him.
The boy hadn't laughed in months.
Then Liam laughed.
Daniel joined.
Thomas giggled.
Within seconds all four boys were laughing.
Richard felt tears burn behind his eyes.
He looked down.
He couldn't let them see.
Later that night, Richard found Sarah sitting alone in the living room.
The old Bible rested beside her.
"You did something today."
Sarah looked up.
"I gave them dinner."
"You gave them peace."
She smiled.
"That's different."
Richard sat across from her.
"Why do you do this?"
"Do what?"
"Work with children."
Sarah's expression changed.
For a second, sadness crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
"I've seen what happens when children believe nobody is coming."
Richard studied her.
"Do you have children?"
Sarah went still.
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Richard noticed.
Before he could ask another question, a sound came from upstairs.
A door creaked.
Sarah immediately stood.
Richard followed.
They found all four boys standing in the hallway.
Marcus was holding a photograph.
Richard recognized it instantly.
Eleanor.
His wife.
Marcus held the photograph against his chest.
"We found this behind the wall."
Richard took it.
His heart stopped.
The photograph was old.
It showed Eleanor standing beside another woman.
Sarah looked at it.
Her face went completely white.
Richard noticed.
"You know her."
Sarah didn't answer.
"Sarah?"
She stepped backward.
"I need to go."
"What?"
"I can't stay here."
Marcus looked frightened.
"You said you wouldn't leave."
Sarah looked at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
She picked up her handbag.
Richard blocked the staircase.
"Who is that woman?"
Sarah looked at the photograph.
Then at Richard.
"Your wife knew her."
"Who?"
Sarah's lips trembled.
"Her name was Rebecca."
Richard felt a chill.
"Rebecca what?"
Sarah didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at the four boys.
"I'm sorry."
Then she walked past him.
Richard followed.
"Sarah!"
She stopped at the front door.
He held the photograph.
"You came here knowing something."
Sarah slowly turned.
"I came here because I was asked to."
"By whom?"
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Your wife."
Richard's blood ran cold.
"Eleanor is alive?"
Sarah shook her head.
"I didn't say that."
"Then what did you say?"
Sarah opened the door.
"Ask yourself why she left."
And before Richard could stop her, she disappeared into the night.
Richard stood frozen.
Behind him, Marcus whispered:
"Dad?"
Richard turned.
All four boys were watching him.
Marcus pointed toward the photograph.
"Who's Rebecca?"
Richard looked down.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.
Six words.
May you like
Six words that made his hands shake.
Don't trust the man closest to you.
