Page 16 of The Atonement
“Mom? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, yes, everything’s fine.” My thoughts jumbled, the tension disappearing from my neck in an instant.
“Oh, thank God, I—”
“Peter stopped by.”
I gulped down a breath, sure I’d misheard. “Whodid?”
“Peter. He wanted to see the kids.”
Snapping back to reality, I rushed around the side of the car and grabbed the door handle, jumping inside. “Did you let him? Is he still there?”
“He’s outside. I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to—”
“Listen to me.” I buckled myself in with one hand, searching desperately for my keys in my purse with the other. My fingers connected with the cool metal, and I jerked them out. “Mom, do not let Peter inside the house, okay? Whatever you do…” I shoved the keys into the ignition, missing the hole once, twice, and a third time before they clicked into place. I turned them, starting the car and lurching forward.
“Well, I didn’t let him in, but I really think—”
“No.No. I’m not asking what you think. I’m telling you not to let him inside. Did you talk to him? Did you tell him we’re staying there?”
“I haven’t told him anything. For goodness’ sake, stop acting as if this is life or dea—”
“Just keep the kids inside. Donotlet him in. Do nottell him we’re staying there. Tell him you haven’t heard from me and that he should call me. Whatever you do—”
“Yes, yes, I get it. Don’t let him inside. You always were one for dramatics, weren’t you?”
I let the comment roll over me. “I’ll be there in forty minutes.” I mashed the accelerator, hoping to arrive sooner than that. I needed to count on my mother to protect the most important things in the world to me, but the sad truth was, I didn’t know if I could do it.
“I have to go, Ainsley.”
“What? What are you talking about? Why?”
She released a sigh as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. “Because Peter is at the door again.”
“Wait, Mom—”
But it was no use. The call had ended, and the car was filled with a painful silence. I could only assume the worst about the situation as I sped around a curve.
I pressed the button on my steering wheel that activated voice prompts.
“Please say a command.”
“Call Peter,” I shouted.
“Calling Peter.”
The line rang, and I held my breath.
It was the first time either of us had tried to call the other since everything had happened. I was crossing the one line we hadn’t yet crossed, breaking the sort of unspoken pact I never wanted to break first.
Once we spoke, things were going to get messy. I just needed to keep my head clear. But this couldn’t wait.
The phone went to voicemail after just three rings.
Which meant he wasn’t actually looking for me.
He was after the kids.
