Page 101 of Absolution

“Dammit, Jackie,” I mutter, dialling again. Straight to voicemail. “Whereareyou?”

Rapid knocking pounds the front door.

I bolt out of my room, the one I’ve been using as an office and rush to the entryway, hope rising like a balloon in my chest.

Please be her.

But it deflates the moment I walk into the living room and see my mother standing in front of the open door, behind her, my father.

“Dad?” I say sharply, instinctively stepping into the doorway to block his view of the kids, who are curled up in the living room watching a movie. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, son,” he says, smooth as ever, “I came to see my grandchildren. Or have you turned them against me, too?”

My mother scoffs beside me.

I exhale. Not now. Not in front of them.

“Let’s take this outside,” I mutter, stepping out after my mom and pulling the door closed behind me.

“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” I say, lowering my voice.

“Why not?” he replies, stepping closer.

She folds her arms. “You’ve never come here without a reason, Kent.”

“Well,wife,” he snaps, “you are still my wife, aren’t you? I came to see mygrandchildren. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Dad-” I start, trying to deescalate, but the door flies open behind me.

“Dad!” Jemma’s voice is high and sharp.

I spin around instantly. “What’s wrong?”

She points somewhere inside. “Look.”

I rush back inside, following her wide eyes to the screen.

It’s the local news. Emergency Broadcast flashes red across the bottom of the screen. A reporter in a yellow rain slicker is standing in front of a stretch of highway that’s completely underwater.

Behind him, murky water rushes across the road, swallowing fences and mailboxes. A small white SUV is stuck halfway up a hill with water nearly reaching its doors. Helicopter footage shows the river swollen, unrecognizable, brown with debris.

“-significant flooding reported along the Guadalupe River near Echo Reach. Several cabins have been cut off from main access roads due to rising water levels overnight. Local authorities are urging residents not to attempt evacuation unless directed. Emergency crews are on standby. If you have loved ones in thisarea, we advise you to try contacting them, but please be patient, cell service has been unreliable in the region.”

My blood turns to ice.

“Isn’t that where Mom is?” Iris asks, her voice small.

I don’t answer right away.

Because yeah. It is.

A hand lands on my shoulder, and it jolts me out of the spiral I’ve fallen into.

“Son,” my dad says, and for once… he doesn’t sound smug. He doesn’t look like the man who usually walks in expecting control. He just looks concerned.

“She’s…” I start, swallowing hard.

He asks. “Do you know the exact location of the cabin?”

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