“By Papa.”
Joe watched his father drive off. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get past the wall that had always existed between the two of them. When he was a kid, he could never figure out what he’d done wrong. As an adult, he realized it wasn’t him. His father had had a rough childhood, even rougher teen years. Those things had shaped him into the hard man he’d become. When Seth was born, Joe had vowed that he’d be a more loving father.
“Why can’t we go see Stanley, now?”
“Let’s sit out here and talk a spell.”
They sat down on Adirondack chairs Joe had repainted white and Seth looked at him with trusting eyes.
“We won’t be seeing Stanley for a while. Do you remember when somebody made him sick?”
“Yeah. You fixed him though ‘cuz you used to be a Vet.”
“That’s right. But some more bad things have happened at the place where Scarlet works. A terrible person is endangering them. Because of that, we have to stay away until the police catch him.”
“We can’t see either one of them?”
“We can’t. Not until all this is cleared up. Which is going to take a while.”
Tears formed in his eyes. “Dad…I love them.”
I know the feeling.“I’m sorry, son. We have to do hard things in life sometimes and this is one of them.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Neither do I. But we have no choice. Now, how about if we go clean out the barn today? The planters will be coming next week before you start school.”
“I wanna help plant.”
“I know. You and I can both do it. So concentrate on that for now.”
* * *
The day Seth came home from his grandfather’s house, Scarlet stood staring at her big closet of clothes. She was trying to push the thought of the last three days away. It wasn’t working…
I don’t know if I can leave you alone.
You have no choice, Joe. Think of Seth’s safety.
What aboutyoursafety?
Stop it Scarlet! But her mind wouldn’t cooperate.
You don’t have a bra on.
I buy dresses with them built in.
Less for me to take off.
She picked a dress, slid it over her head and buttoned it up. Then she found matching sandals.
I’ll never forget this time with you, Scarlet. No matter what happens.
You will. You have to. For Seth.
Just as she sat to put on her shoes, she heard the doorbell ring. God, she hoped it wasn’t Joe. And she prayed like hell it was.
Holding her sandals, she walked barefoot through the house to the foyer and she checked the camera hole. And pulled open the door.
