Chapter 3 - Caroline Blocks the Door
Caroline walked in carrying a white pastry bag and scrolling through her phone.
She was wearing a green dress, her hair perfect, her face relaxed in the way people look when they believe the house is still under their control.
Then she saw me holding Gracie.
Her smile disappeared.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking her to the hospital.”
The pastry bag dropped onto the counter.
“She fell,” Caroline said quickly. “I already handled it.”
“She told me what happened.”
For a split second, all the color left my wife’s face.
Then anger rushed in to replace it.
“She’s lying because you spoil her every time you come home.”
Gracie buried her face against my shoulder.
I stood slowly with my daughter in my arms.
“Do not ever say that about my child again.”
“Our child,” Caroline snapped.
“No,” I said quietly. “Not when you told her to stay silent.”
Caroline stepped in front of the door.
“If you walk out with her, don’t bother coming back.”
I looked at the woman I had married.
For years, I had called her intense. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Too hard on herself. Too hard on Gracie sometimes, but never beyond what I could explain away.
That night, there was nothing left to explain.
I shifted Gracie higher against my chest, grabbed my keys from the side table, and moved toward the entrance.
Caroline reached for my arm.
I turned my shoulder away and yanked the front door open hard.
Cold night air rushed in.
Wet stone gleamed under the porch light.
Caroline followed me to the doorway.
“Put her back in bed,” she snapped.
May you like
I pulled Gracie closer.
“She’s going to the hospital.”
