Page 136 of Just One Kiss

Josh looked up as his father growled. “She’s not going anywhere.” He lunged toward Gloria, but Josh stepped between them again. His father swung a beefy arm back, striking his mom with the back of his hand. She fell to the ground with a shriek.

“Stop it!” Gloria yelled.

“Mom, get outside.”

His dad circled Josh, positioning himself between his son and his wife. He gave her a backward kick with his heel.

She cried out in pain.

“Leave her alone.”

Leave her alone!

“Get up, Gloria. Stop whimpering,” Jim snarled. He spun around and faced Josh. “Come on, sonny boy. Let’s see what you’re made of!”

Josh’s mind spun back decades. He was young—only eight.

Come on, sonny boy. Let’s see what you’re made of!

Dylan, get outside! Run!

He brought his hands to his head as his father shoved him backward.

Josh swatted his father’s hand away, mind still whirling, trying to settle on what was true, trying to peer through the fog of memories he’d worked so hard to forget. He stumbled toward the kitchen, the image of his little brother flashing through his mind.

Feisty and rambunctious, Dylan had been full of life. Full of spunk.

That night was like most nights.

Their parents were arguing. Angry words lit the air, and Josh raced upstairs, determined to wait it out, just as he’d always done.

But Dylan—he was younger, but he was braver. Dylan left the hiding place inside the window seat in the upstairs hallway and ran downstairs, shouting the whole way.

“Leave her alone!”

Josh could hear his tiny voice echoing through his safe spot.

“Get out of here, boy!” their father shouted.

“Dylan, get outside! Run!” Gloria shrieked the words.

The sound of a smack reverberated through the walls.

“Leave her alone!” Dylan yelled again.

Josh pushed the window seat open and raced downstairs, hollering for Dylan the whole way.

“Dylan, get outside! Run!”

He reached the door of the kitchen seconds before his mother grabbed on to his father’s arm—a failed attempt to keep him from injuring their youngest son. His dad reared back, and his mom fell onto the floor, but as his dad righted himself, he flailed again, this time seeming to lose control of his large, muscular arm, knocking Dylan backward—hard—into the corner of the counter.

Josh screamed.

Gloria screamed.

Dylan fell to the ground, head bloody in the back, and crashed onto the tile with a thud.

Josh raced over to his brother while his father stood upright, hulking over the two boys.

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