Chapter 4: What Lauren Knew
I drove the kids to my house while Nolan stayed behind.
My granddaughter sat in the back seat and stared out the window.
My grandson held the Lego tub on his lap the entire drive, both arms wrapped around it, as if someone might take that too.
I didn't say anything until we were inside and I had them both settled at the kitchen table with warm milk and the tin of shortbread I kept in the second cabinet.
"Is Dad going to be okay?" my granddaughter asked.
"Your dad is going to be fine," I said.
"He's handling something."
"Is it about Chloe?"
I looked at her.
Nine years old.
Clear eyes.
"Yes," I said.
Because she already knew, and she deserved not to be lied to.
She nodded slowly and broke a piece of shortbread in half.
She gave the larger piece to her brother without being asked.
I called Nolan at nine-thirty.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Lauren stayed," he said.
"She showed me everything."
"How bad is it?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"Mom, she's been planning to send the kids away since before the wedding."
I sat down.
"There are messages going back eight months," he said.
"Before we were even married.
She was already talking to a school.
She told her sister she'd have them placed by the end of the year."
"Nolan—"
"She never wanted them here.
She wanted the house and she wanted me and she was going to deal with the kids by making them disappear."
I could hear him breathing.
Controlled, careful.
The way he used to breathe when he was trying not to cry in front of people.
"Where is she now?" I asked.
"In the bedroom.
She stopped talking after Lauren left.
She just said I was overreacting and went upstairs."
"And what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything.
I came and sat in the kitchen." A pause.
"I keep thinking about how long she's been smiling at me.
Coming to their school events.
Sitting at dinner.
And the whole time—"
"Don't do that to yourself tonight," I said.
"Not tonight."
"I should have seen it."
"Nolan.
Stop."
He went quiet.
"The children are fine," I said.
"They're here.
They're safe.
That's what matters right now."
"Can they stay with you?
For a few days?"
"As long as they need."
He let out a slow breath.
"I have to figure out what I'm doing."
"I know."
"I married her, Mom.
Six months ago I stood in front of everyone and—"
"I know," I said again.
"I know."
After we hung up, I sat at the kitchen table for a long time.
The house was quiet.
Through the doorway I could see the kids had fallen asleep on the sofa, my grandson still with one hand resting on the Lego tub.
My phone buzzed.
A text from a number I didn't recognize.
*This is Lauren.
I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner.
May you like
There's one more thing Nolan doesn't know yet.
Can we talk tomorrow?*
