Eloise

The house was quiet except for Max’s giggles upstairs as he played with the toy car I’d brought him. I was in the kitchen humming an old tune, my way of distracting myself from all the chaos I had dragged into the house. 

It was supposed to be a calm evening. I’d finally gotten a chance to pick up Max after all the drama of the past few days. Holding him in my arms had felt like a balm to my soul.

A sudden knock startled me out of my thoughts. Frowning, I went to the door.

When I opened it, Mike was there, his face etched with concern....