Five of Us at Christmas, But They Only Ordered Four Cookies novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: The Key

"Welcome home," Lacey said.

She was holding her phone up in her other hand, with the red light on.

"I'm recording," she said sweetly. "In case anyone asks what happened."

Behind me, Emmett set down the bags.

I heard a heavy tread on the stairs, and another, and Tobias came up the last flight with Chad and Zelda one step behind.

They stopped on the landing.

Tobias looked at the phone in Lacey's hand, and then at the key in her fist.

"Lacey," he said. "Give me my car keys."

"Not now, Toby."

"Now."

"I'm having a conversation with my cousin." She turned the phone toward me. "Hannah, I came home. I live here too. I want to say that I forgive you for what you did at dinner, and I hope you can forgive yourself."

"Okay."

"Everyone saw how upset you were. You said terrible things in front of my mother. I think you need help, and I'm here for you."

"Okay," I said.

She waited.

I had said that word to her a thousand times.

She expected it to work.

"Are you recording this for the family?" I asked.

"I'm recording because you've been unstable."

"Good," I said. "Record it all."

I walked into my own hallway, and she backed up a step to keep me in the frame.

I held out my hand.

"My key," I said.

"This is my home."

"The lease is in my name. It's been in my name for four years. You never signed anything."

Her smile flickered.

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