Denied.
I entered it again.
Denied.
Linda’s eyes filled with tears. “He told me not to make a scene.”
I gently took her grocery bag, then held out my hand.
“Come with me.”
She looked frightened. “Tom, don’t fight him.”
“I’m not going to fight him,” I said. “I’m going to remind him.”
We walked to the side entrance near the garage. Ethan had forgotten one thing: I had built this house long before smart locks and security apps. I opened the old manual lock with the spare key hidden inside my work boot in the shed.
Inside, Ethan stood in my kitchen with Ashley, measuring the wall like they already owned it.
He looked stunned when he saw us.
“Dad,” he said. “We need to talk.”
I set Linda’s bag on the counter.
“No,” I said. “Tonight, you listen.”
