Michael Walked Out of His Office the Day Four-Year-Old Noah Called About a Broken Arm

The heater blew warm air on his cold hands.

They pulled into the narrow driveway of the rental house on Maple Street at five twenty on the dot.

A dark blue pickup was sitting in the driveway by the front porch with its engine running.

Exhaust puffed into the cold evening air.

The truck had big off-road tires and a silver metal toolbox bolted into the bed.

Lena was standing on the bottom porch step.

She had on a heavy gray sweater and her arms were folded across her chest.