Chapter 3

The next day was Saturday.

Zoe and Simon had activities that afternoon, and I wanted Madison to sleep in, so I got up quietly and went to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone. I made oatmeal, scrambled some eggs, cut up fresh fruit, and warmed a batch of cinnamon rolls.

I followed nearly the same routine for close to ten years. By then, I could have done it in my sleep.

After setting everything on the table, I checked the time. Grace and Andrew would be back from their morning walk soon, so I went to Madison's room to wake her.

For the past three years, Madison had rarely slept in the same room as Zoe and me. Most nights, she slept beside Simon instead.

Simon originally shared a room with Grace, but he tossed and turned all night and constantly kicked off his covers.

Grace complained that she already had enough trouble sleeping without waking up every hour to tuck him back in. Eventually, she said she couldn't take it anymore.

Madison volunteered to sleep with Simon instead, abandoning Zoe, who was only two months younger than him, without a second thought.

I pushed open Madison's door and found her alone in bed. Simon's side was empty.

I was still wondering where he had gone when a scream suddenly came from my bedroom. Thinking Zoe was having another nightmare, I took off running.

What I found was worse than any nightmare.

Simon was straddling Zoe on the bed, one hand pinning her down by the stomach while the other yanked at her shorts. Zoe thrashed in terror as he ordered her to stop moving, then spat angrily in her face.

Something inside me snapped.

I lunged forward, grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and hauled him off her. I slapped him hard across the face several times, then shoved him toward the doorway with my foot.

Simon hit the floor with a heavy thud.

He went still for a second, then let out an ear-splitting scream.

At that exact moment, I heard the front door open. Grace and Andrew shouted in alarm and rushed toward the bedroom.

I didn't care anymore. I quickly pulled Zoe's clothes back into place and gathered her into my arms, trying to calm her as I stared coldly at the doorway.

Grace and Andrew burst into the room, crying out over their poor baby as they scooped Simon off the floor and frantically checked him for injuries.

Madison came running in behind them in her pajamas, panic all over her face. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Simon could barely speak through his sobs. Pointing at me, he choked out, "H-he hit me...and kicked me. It hurts so bad. Hit him! Hurry up and hit him!"

That was all Grace needed to hear. She shot to her feet, cursing as she charged at me with murder in her eyes.

I set Zoe down on the far side of the bed and stood calmly.

When Grace lunged at me, I stepped aside. Her momentum carried her forward, and she slammed her chin into the wooden coat rack at the foot of the bed.

Tears sprang to her eyes. She clutched her chin, sank to the floor, and immediately began screaming as though I had attacked her.

"He hit me! He's completely out of control! My own son-in-law is attacking this family!"

Andrew was still gripping the wooden walking stick he had taken with him that morning. His hands shook with rage.

"Peter, what the hell is wrong with you? You're a grown man, and he's a kid! Look what you did to his face. What could he possibly have done to deserve that? You'd better start explaining, or I swear you're going to answer for this!"