“Tim, this whole situation is hard on everyone. Do you think I wanted to have Officers’ Brown and Bradley search our house, with weapons drawn, for intruders? Perhaps you think it was the highlight of my day to be put in a police van and driven to Raleigh after being told to pack enough clothes for the three of us for a minimum of three days? That’s right, the three of us!” Shelly emphasized. “The police fully expected your cooperation in this but you chose to stay with friends instead of family.” Shelley blurted out, bitterly.

Tim started to say something but Shelley cut him off. “No, Tim. I didn’t have anything to do with that. I didn’t ask him to say anything to you. Believe it or not, Robert doesn’t tell me what his plans are, much less seek my approval on anything. Why he thought he had the right to question you about your reasons for not joining us here, in Raleigh, I don’t know. I wish you had come to town, although I can understand why you wouldn’t want to. It feels a bit strange to me, being here. I told the officer’s why I didn’t think it was a sound idea but they overruled me. They said safety came before comfort so all of us are trying to make the best of it. I am hoping the situation will get resolved soon and Christopher and I can come home.”

Instead of answering, Tim hung up on her. Shelley could not believe it. Just when they should be working together to get beyond this stressful time Tim pulls a childish stunt like this!

Pushing the off button, Shelley turned back towards the house. “If it’s not on Tim’s terms it is not worth discussing, I guess,” Shelley quietly whispered as she entered the house.

Glancing into the family room as she passed by, Shelley saw Korie was watching Spongebob with Trent and Christopher. She smiled and mouthed, “thank you,” to Korie, when she looked in her direction. Shelley walked further down the hallway. Tarah had her feet up on a black leather ottoman, silently reading a novel of some kind and didn’t notice as Shelley headed upstairs.

Making a quick phone call, Shelley grabbed her purse, made her way back down the stairs and let herself quietly out the back door. Peering around quickly, she stepped off the porch and disappeared into the night.