The Family Home: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by Miranda Smith

Author:Miranda Smith [Smith, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803144696
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-NINE

MATTHEW

As soon as we enter the house, Mabel marches upstairs.

“Put on your pajamas,” I shout after her.

I wander into the kitchen, emptying my pockets into the junk bowl, and lean forward over the counter. I breathe deeply, relishing a few moments of normalcy after this bizarre day.

Rebecca comes up behind me, starts rubbing the small of my back. I feel myself melting into her touch. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know. This all feels like it’s getting too intense.”

“Who was that woman back at the school?”

“Her name is Alaina. She’s married to Carl, the man that died.” It doesn’t matter how many times these types of sentences leave my lips, it’s not normal. I exhale. “I can’t believe Mabel had to see all of that.”

“She’s a strong girl. She’ll be okay.”

Will she? Ever since she was born, I’ve put Mabel at the center of my life. Lillian has done the same. It’s how we agreed upon this nesting set-up in the first place. We wanted to shield her from the complicated scenes so many children with divorced parents face. We didn’t want her going back and forth between homes. We didn’t want her feeling like she had to choose between us. She needed to know we were here for her, always in her corner.

The Florida offer appears in my mind again. A brief daydream of Mabel and I walking hand-in-hand on the beach, the sun beating down on our shoulders, salty air tickling our noses. Maybe change is what she needs after this, what I need. But I can’t relive that fantasy without leaving Lillian behind, and I’m not sure she deserves that. I look up, and see Rebecca staring back at me, remember she’s yet another person we’d be leaving.

“You should stay the night.” I reach out my hand, pulling her closer to me.

“What about Lillian?”

“She has her own room.”

“It might be better for the three of you to stay together.” She grabs her bag. “Tomorrow will be a busy day at school. I could use some rest.”

The past few days have been intense, and I feel a distance growing between us. We’re used to Lillian being on the outskirts of our lives, and the past few days, she’s been fully enmeshed.

“Is there something else bothering you?”

Her reaction tells me there is. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“But I am worried. Is all of this with Lillian getting to you? You can tell me.”

“It’s not that. I mean, I am bothered by it all. Of course. But that’s not what has been worrying me.” She waits. “My ex was released from prison.”

My legs suddenly feel weak. I sit on the barstool next to the counter. Rebecca rarely talks about her ex, and I try not to pry. “When?”

“Almost two weeks ago.”

“And you’re just now telling me?”

“I wanted to tell you sooner, but there was Mabel’s party. Then everything at the apartment.” She looks down. “You’ve had enough on your mind without worrying about my problems.”

I stand, pulling her close to me.

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