The Address in the Article
Chapter 03 - The Address in the Article
The newspaper article mentioned a neighborhood.
Frank drove there the next morning.
He parked across the street from a modest white house.
For twenty minutes, he did nothing.
Then the front door opened.
Emily stepped outside.
No cap and gown now.
Just jeans, sneakers, and a blue sweatshirt.
She looked younger in person.
Frank's throat tightened.
Laura came out behind her.
Eighteen years disappeared.
Laura had gray in her hair now.
But Frank knew her instantly.
He opened the truck door.
Then stopped.
What was he supposed to say?
Hello, I'm the father you were told never existed?
Instead, he watched Emily get into a car and drive away.
Laura turned toward the street.
Her eyes found Frank's truck.
Her face went white.
Frank stepped out.
Laura crossed the yard quickly.
“You need to leave.”
“You told me she died.”
Laura's expression broke.
“Frank—”
“You told me my daughter died.”
Laura looked toward the road.
“I had reasons.”
“Eighteen years?”
“You were dangerous.”
Frank flinched.
He wanted to deny it.
Then he remembered himself at twenty-nine.
The shouting.
The broken doors.
The nights he came home drunk.
Laura whispered, “I was afraid of you.”
Frank stared at her.
Then he asked the one question that terrified him most.
“Does she know I'm alive?”
May you like
Laura said nothing.
And silence gave him the answer.
