r Caleb was in bed. I used the time, and the money I'd been saving, to prepare. I bought the bus tickets online, packed our few b

r, his shoulders a little straighter. For a moment, he

ever, Mommy," he'd sai

lt like a dist

e doorbell rang, and my stomach dropped.

d behind him, smiling polit

ulness. "This is Gabrielle. We were just finishing up som

, but his eyes were

e folks from back home. M

Folks from back home.

acket. He looked at Ethan, his expression unreadable, and

he said to Gabrielle. Then he tu

Sc

, hit Ethan harder than any shout ever could. I saw the colo

on Caleb's shoulder in a show of avunc

e, who was looking at Caleb with a detached cu

lly, would you mind cooking for us? I'll pay yo

two twenty-d

was forty dollars more for our escape. I took the bills f

my voice flat. "I'l

grabbing pasta, sauce, a loaf of bread. All I could think about was Cal

gers. As I approached the apartment, I heard a cry.

the bags

concrete porch steps. His new jacket was torn at the elbow

of the steps, a hand to her mout

. "He just came running out, and I turned around, and I must

checking him over. "Caleb, hone

inting at the tear. "It's

Gabrielle, then to Ethan, who

ed, my voice shaking with

is eyes darting between me and Gabrielle. He was p

le added, her voice laced with defens

sh to his son. He didn't defend him. His first priority was keeping Gabrielle calm, keeping

aw. The last piece of my b

es cold and clear. "I'm

Caleb into my arms. He buried his fac

t, Mommy," he whispered, h

d back, my own tears finally falling. "We're g

rained wrist. They wrapped it in a

til the first hint of gray light appear

o go, s

ad him out of the apartment, our two duffel bags slung over my shoulder.

saw Ethan's car speeding toward the clinic. He was hold

late. We were