Chapter 3 - TWENTY MINUTES
Richard exploded.
“You can’t throw me out of my own house!”
The deputy remained calm.
“Sir, according to the emergency protective order filed tonight, you need to leave the residence.”
“This is insane!”
Vivian stood behind him clutching Chloe.
Brooke looked terrified.
“What protective order?” Richard demanded.
The deputy glanced at his paperwork.
“Concerns involving a minor child.”
Richard looked toward the staircase.
“Amanda!”
I walked down holding Ethan.
He had changed into clean pajamas.
“Don’t involve the police in our marriage.”
I stopped halfway down.
“You involved our son.”
Vivian scoffed.
“This is ridiculous.”
The second deputy looked at her.
“Ma’am, were you supervising the child this evening?”
She straightened.
“I was teaching him manners.”
Ethan tightened his arms around my neck.
The deputy noticed.
“What kind of manners?”
Vivian hesitated.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It became our business when an emergency protective order was requested.”
Richard pointed at me.
“She’s lying.”
I reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Would you like to see the video?”
Silence.
Richard’s face changed.
“What video?”
“The cameras.”
Vivian slowly turned toward the hallway camera.
Brooke whispered, “Richard…”
He stared at me.
“You record inside the house?”
“You installed the system.”
“I thought those cameras were decorative.”
“They’re not.”
The deputy stepped between us.
“Mr. Whitman, you need to pack an overnight bag.”
Richard looked murderous.
“You’ll regret this.”
“No.”
I held Ethan tighter.
“I regret not seeing who you were sooner.”
He stormed upstairs.
Vivian remained on the sofa.
“I’m not leaving.”
I looked at the deputy.
“She doesn’t live here.”
Vivian’s mouth fell open.
“Amanda!”
“You heard me.”
“You ungrateful little—”
“Careful.”
She stopped.
I nodded toward the camera.
“Everything you say tonight might become evidence.”
Brooke looked down at Chloe.
“What about us?”
“You’re leaving too.”
Her eyes filled.
“I have a baby.”
“So do I.”
I looked at Ethan.
“The difference is mine was treated like an animal while yours was treated like royalty.”
“That wasn’t my decision.”
“You stood there.”
“I didn’t know what to do.”
“You could have picked him up.”
She looked away.
That told me everything.
Twenty minutes later, Richard came downstairs dragging a suitcase.
He stopped in front of Ethan.
For one second, I thought he might apologize.
Instead he looked at me.
“You think you won.”
“This isn’t about winning.”
“It always is with you.”
“No.”
I looked directly at him.
“This is about protecting my son.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Your son.”
“Yes.”
“Remember that tomorrow.”
Something about the way he said it bothered me.
“What happens tomorrow?”
Richard smiled.
“You’ll find out.”
The deputies escorted him outside.
Vivian followed.
Brooke carried Chloe behind them.
Just before the door closed, Richard turned.
“I know something about Ethan you don’t.”
My stomach tightened.
“What are you talking about?”
He laughed softly.
Then the door slammed.
Ethan whispered against my shoulder.
“Mommy…”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Why did Daddy say that?”
I had no answer.
But I knew one person who might.
May you like
Ethan’s biological father.
A man I hadn’t spoken to in almost five years.
