Chapter 2
I walked around the side of the house and entered through the back door.
Amy was sitting on a plastic stool, surrounded by greasy pots and stacks of dirty dishes.
One arm cradled Frederick, who was burning with a high fever.
With her other hand, she scrubbed a large cooking pot.
Between her lips she held a dry piece of bread because she hadn't even had time to eat properly.
Her shirt was soaked with sweat.
Her cheeks looked hollow.
Her wrists seemed painfully thin.
The moment she saw me, the piece of bread fell from her mouth.
“Connor... your mother said I couldn't stop yet. I still have to serve the coffee.”
I gently took Frederick from her arms.
He was breathing rapidly, and his eyes were glassy with fever.
Then I reached for Amy's hand.
“We're leaving.”
She glanced fearfully toward the dining area.
“She's going to be angry.”
Those words hurt me more than any insult ever could.
I escorted my wife and son out through the back door, settled them safely inside the car, and called 911.
I explained that people were inside my home without my permission, that my wife had been forced to work while caring for our sick baby, and that I feared for their safety.
I also requested an ambulance.
Within minutes, police officers and paramedics arrived.
From inside the car, I watched the party come to an abrupt stop.
My mother stormed outside, screaming that the house belonged to her.
She shoved one of the officers and refused to identify herself.
My cousin Mason tried to slip out through the front door with a folder hidden beneath his jacket.
The officers stopped him before he could leave.
When they searched the folder, they recovered the original deed to my house.
As I watched my mother being handcuffed, still hurling insults at Amy, I realized the party had never been just another act of humiliation.
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It had been part of a plan to steal everything we owned.
I couldn't believe what was about to happen next.
