Chapter 17 - THE FIRST NIGHTThey rented a furnished three-bedroom house thirty minutes away.
It was ordinary.
Beige carpet.
Small kitchen.
No staff.
No marble.
Caleb loved it immediately.
“Can I have this room?”
Grant looked.
It was smallest.
“Why?”
“Window.”
He could see maple tree.
“Sure.”
Furniture delivery delayed.
Caleb slept first night on mattress on floor.
Grant lay beside him.
Audra stood in doorway.
Caleb whispered:
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we poor now?”
Grant laughed.
“Maybe a little.”
Audra smiled through tears.
Caleb thought.
“Are you sad?”
Grant looked toward wife.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because everybody I need is in this room.”
Caleb accepted.
“Okay.”
Five minutes later asleep.
Grant stayed beside him long after.
Audra whispered:
“You didn’t have to give up everything.”
“Yes.”
“You could have stayed at company and moved out.”
“Not under Mom while case happens.”
“You built career.”
“I can build another.”
Audra looked scared.
“What if you can’t?”
Grant was quiet.
“Then we build smaller.”
He took her hand.
“You did it before me.”
“What?”
“You built life for Caleb in Kentucky.”
“With two jobs.”
“No mansion.”
“No trust.”
“I can learn.”
Audra laughed softly.
“You don’t know how to buy groceries.”
“That’s slander.”
“You ordered twelve avocados yesterday.”
“They were on sale.”
“You don’t eat avocados.”
Grant stared.
“Okay, first challenge.”
They laughed.
It was first laughter since disappearance.
May you like
Not happiness yet.
But beginning.
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