After Lefting Me on the Bridge, He Lost His Mind novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Two Phones

Sabina's POV

I heard the front door open from the top of the stairs, and I knew the footsteps before the light came on.

I stood on the landing in Quinton's old Mets shirt and watched my ex-boyfriend take off his wet coat in his mother's hall.

Quinton stood between him and the stairs, in his socks, with his arms down.

"Get out," Quinton said.

"It's Christmas, Quinton."

"It's midnight, and you let yourself in."

"Mom gave me the key."

"She gave it to you when you were sixteen."

"She never asked for it back."

A door opened upstairs, and Dorothy came out in her robe with her silver hair flat on one side.

She came down the stairs one hand on the rail, past me, and into the hall.

She looked at her younger son for a long time.

"You look terrible," she said.

Bryce's face crumpled.

"Mom. I just want to be home."

"I know you do."

"I'm so sorry. I've made a mess, and I don't know how."

"I'm sure."

"Can I stay? Just tonight?"

I held the banister.

I could see what he was doing, because I had watched it work on me for seven years.

I waited for her to fall for it.

Dorothy folded her hands in front of her robe.

"You can sleep in the den," she said. "Quinton will stay on the sofa outside the door. In the morning we will have Christmas breakfast, with your aunt and uncle at the table, and you will eat it."

Bryce slumped in relief.

"Thank you."

"And after you eat it, you'll hand me every phone you own."

His breath stopped.

"Mom."

"Both of them, Bryce."

He didn't answer.

She turned and climbed back up the stairs.

On the landing, she stopped beside me and whispered, "I want witnesses."

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