"This … isn't this the dress Nicole wore a few days ago?"
"Why is it here?"
I didn't respond to his words, lost in my own world.
However, the more I acted this way, the more uneasy Charlie felt.
Panic rising in his chest, he turned to Jane again.
"Jane, did Mom really take Nicole away?"
"Where did they go? I'm going to find them."
Jane's face paled. Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Charlie, don't worry. I … I saw Nicole just this morning!"
"And Mom? She should be back for dinner soon."
Charlie was not comforted by Jane's words, but became more irritated.
He rolled up his sleeves and looked at the steaming hot water to the side, trying to distract himself.
At that moment, I seemed to sense something and looked out of the yard.
"Charlie, guess what I heard at the commune today?"
My mother-in-law's voice boomed into the yard even before she appeared.
The firewood slipped from Jane's hand as she added it to the fire, falling into the flames and sending sparks flying.
Charlie didn't notice. A smile appeared on his face and he hurried to the door.
But he froze.
"Mom, where's Nicole?"
"Didn't Jane say she went out with you?"