Nathaniel pulled out a chair.
“Would you like to sit for a minute?”
She looked at Sophie, then accepted.

The Story Continues After Part 2

PART 3: The Blue Car Beyond the Window

Hannah took the chair but kept her coat buttoned.

Sophie climbed onto the seat beside her and lined up three paper sugar packets as though they were tiny houses.

Nathaniel did not ask a question immediately.

Years of negotiating had taught him that silence could make people speak, but tonight he did not want to negotiate anything.

He wanted Hannah to have the choice to talk or not.

“Her school closes for the holiday,” Hannah said finally.

“I thought I could make Christmas feel normal before she noticed anything was different.”

“Different how?”

Hannah glanced at the window.

Across the lot stood an older blue sedan, its windshield cloudy around the edges.

There was a blanket tucked against the rear side window.

A child-sized winter boot rested on the dashboard.

“We have been sleeping in the car,” Hannah said.

“Just for a few nights.

I kept telling myself it was temporary.”

Nathaniel felt a hard weight settle beneath his ribs.

He had expected some version of hardship.