Her Mother’s Grave

Chapter Eighteen

JOSIE – SIX YEARS OLD

Fingers trailed over Josie’s scalp, stroking her hair gently. Nestled in her bed, her small hands clutched the fuzzy pink blanket her gram had given her for Christmas. It was her favorite thing in the world after Wolfie. Poor Wolfie, she hadn’t seen him since the night at the hospital.

“JoJo,” her daddy whispered.

Her eyes snapped open and she smiled, a hot spike of pain shooting from her ear all the way down to her chin, making her wince. She’d nearly forgotten. Her daddy’s face floated above her bed, half-smiling, half-worried. She knew his worried look. One of his eyebrows always went up like a fuzzy caterpillar bending in the middle. Reaching up, she traced a finger over it, trying to smooth it down.

“Daddy,” she said. “Is it wake-up time?”

Again, he brushed her hair away from her face, careful to avoid the dressing. “No, honey, it’s still nighttime.”

“Don’t you have to go to work?” Josie asked.

He smiled, and his worried caterpillar brow arched more. “Not tonight, sweetie. I need to talk to you. We’re going to go to Gram’s, okay?”

“Will Mommy come?” she asked.

Her daddy looked away from her, at the closed door, and then back. “No. Mommy’s staying here.”

Josie tried to hide how happy this made her.

“JoJo,” her daddy said, shifting on the edge of her bed. “I need you to be very quiet, okay? At least until we get out to my truck. Can you do that for me?”

Wide-eyed, Josie nodded.

He got up and walked over to a small duffel bag near the door, shoving things into it—her clothes and toys. She was just about to ask how long they were going to be at Gram’s house, when there was a thump against her bedroom door. Both of them jumped. Her daddy turned just as another loud blow shook the door. Then her mother’s voice shouted, “Goddamnit Eli, what are you doing in there?”

Her daddy didn’t answer. He just stood there in the middle of Josie’s room, duffel bag in one hand.

“Unlock this door, Eli. Right now,” she snarled.

“Daddy,” Josie whispered. “I’m scared.”