Not Every Home Is Meant to Be Returned To novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Sewing Machine

I stood on my own porch with a key that would not turn.

Kenzie's mom took out her phone. "Call your lawyer, honey. Right now."

He answered on the second ring.

"The lock has been changed," I said. "The key your office gave me doesn't fit."

"Then you are standing at the door of your own house and someone has locked you out of it," he said. "Stay where you are. I'm sending the deed to this number."

Across the street, the neighbor in the quilted robe had come out onto her step again.

She held up her phone and gave me a small wave.

"I called the non-emergency line," she called. "Told them there might be a disagreement on Alder Lane. Hope that's all right."

"Yes," I said. "Thank you."

A black SUV turned onto the street and slowed.

It pulled into the driveway, and my father got out of the driver's seat.

He saw me on the porch, and his face went through three expressions before it settled on tired.

Mom climbed out of the passenger side with her handbag. Lacey and Maisie were in the back.

"You can't just stand on people's property, Hazel," Mom said.

"It's my property," I said.

"You are being cruel."

"You changed the locks."

"We have a right to feel safe in our home."

"Then call the police," Kenzie said from the steps. "Oh, wait."

A patrol car pulled up to the curb.

The officer who got out was a heavy, unhurried man with a notepad. He looked at the porch, the SUV and the neighbor with her phone.

"Somebody called about a disagreement," he said.

"There's no disagreement, officer," Mom said sweetly. "My daughter is upset. It's been a hard morning."

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