Silence.
After Marian’s security review, the office system stored every incoming call.
At the time, I had considered it excessive.
Now I wanted to send her flowers.
“I need to speak to him,” Diane said.
“No.”
“Is he there? I can hear voices.”
A shadow moved beyond the glass.
Noah stood in the doorway.
He had left the powered chair in the break room and crossed the workshop using his walking pole. The moment he recognized the voice leaking from the receiver, something in his face changed.
I covered the mouthpiece.
“Your mother.”
He held out his hand.
My first response came from instinct.
No.
Protection.
Control.
Then Caleb’s words returned.
A fence built from fear remained a fence.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Head?”
“Two.”
“Do you want me here?”
“Yes.”
I placed the receiver in his hand and moved to stand beside him.
Noah lifted it to his ear.
“Diane.”
Not Mom.
Not Mother.
