Page 47 of The Locksmith's Promise

After a brief pause, she admitted, “You, too. There’s never been a day I haven’t thought about you or prayed for you.”

I lost the battle and wrapped my other arm around her. “Thank you, Maggie. You have to know, there’s never been—”

She pulled away abruptly. “You want to come up?” Brushing imaginary lint from her sweater, she avoided my eyes. “Cor will be disappointed if you don’t.”

Sighing, I stepped back. “I’ll come up. Just let me grab a few things from the car.”

Shaking her hands out, she walked up the stairs. “I’ll send Cor out to help.”

For the rest of the night, Maggie barely said two words.

When I caught her eye, she looked away.

If I asked her a question, she answered politely and succinctly.

I pushed too hard, took too much.

Was she still upset with me?

We ate the dinner she prepared for us at their tiny table, Corwin carrying the conversation like a champ despite the tense ending to our outing.

He didn’t hesitate to say what was on his mind and freely sought validation and approval from both of us.

He did all the things I never could.

Laughed openly, talked about his dreams and plans, shared every little thing that crossed his mind.

Would he be like Lucky? Laughing and happy? Or would I do something to fuck him up the way my father fucked me up?

He was still so small.

I never realized just how young ten was.

Corwin unpacked his purchases and showed his mom. Along with both guitars and all the paraphernalia that came with them, there was a set of books he had his eye on and three vinyl records for his record player.

Seeing it laid out in the middle of their tiny family room, I acknowledged I may have gone overboard.

While Maggie helped Cor with some homework, I did the dishes. God knows, homework would never be my strongpoint.

While I eventually went to college, it took me four years to complete a two-year diploma I had no interest in pursuing into the job market.

I wasn’t sorry I went, but it was a temporary escape, not a carefully orchestrated plan for the future.

When I came back to Moose Lake to regroup, I was no further ahead than I’d been. When my father, who had been the town handyman, neglected his jobs, I filled in.

At first, I handed the pay over to him for the jobs I completed for him in exchange for room and board. But he resented me for that as well.

When people began bypassing him to call on me, he was livid.

I should have left before things got worse.

But Maggie was here, and I didn’t want to leave her. Foolishly, I thought he and I could find a way to co-exist.

But I underestimated his hatred for me.

And the fact there was not enough work for both of us only made things worse.

I closed my eyes to steady myself as my blood pounded through my veins. He was dead. He couldn’t hurt me anymore, and he’d never touch Maggie or Cor.

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