His 47 Seconds of Silence Cost Him Everything novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Off Camera

The door swung shut behind Stacy.

Nobody at the table moved.

Callen's shoulder had gone hard as a rock under my hand.

"I didn't say yes," he whispered. "She never asked me."

"I know, bud."

"Ren. Nine hundred people."

Cory was already on his feet, reaching for his keys, going after her.

He didn't look at his son on the way out.

On the first Sunday in June, a Ritter Realty open house sign stood at the end of a new cul-de-sac, with balloons on it.

FAMILY FIRST, it said, under Cory's face.

The house was gray and enormous, with a three-car garage and a little sign in the foyer asking visitors to take their shoes off.

I kept mine on.

Cory was in the kitchen in a quarter-zip, showing a young couple the island.

The wife had a baby in a carrier on her chest.

"Quartz," Cory was saying. "Ten-foot island. This is where your family's going to live."

Then he saw me.

His smile didn't break. He was too good for that.

"Renee. We're with clients."

"I'll be quick."

The couple looked at me, then at each other.

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