I ARRIVED AT MY BEACH HOUSE EXPECTING PEACE-YILUX

strangers.

Like the place had already been erased from me.

Like I had already disappeared.

About forty minutes later, my phone rang.

Robert.

I stared at the screen.

His name.

Still saved the same way it had been for years.

“My son.”

I answered.

“Mom?” His voice was tense. Confused. “What is Mr. Halpern talking about?”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because I wanted continue reading …