Jason spoke.
“Mom, stop.”
Even through the camera Riley could hear him now.
Linda pulled the key out.
“She must have changed something.”
Stephanie stared at the lock.
“She said she wouldn’t be home.”
Linda rounded on her.
“No, she said she might not be home.”
Jason frowned.
“That’s not what her text said.”
Linda froze.
Riley leaned closer to the screen.
Interesting.
Jason pulled out his phone.
Before he could unlock it, Linda knocked violently.
“Riley!”
Nothing.
She pounded again.
“Riley Bennett!”
Oliver covered his ears.
Sky woke and began crying.
Stephanie bounced the baby.
“Linda, please stop.”
Linda ignored her.
Then she kicked one of the suitcases out of her way.
It rolled into the wall.
Emma jumped.
Jason’s face hardened.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“Calm down.”
“She changed the locks.”
“It’s her apartment.”
“I have an emergency key.”
“For emergencies.”
“This is an emergency.”
Stephanie stared at her.
“No.”
Linda turned.
“Excuse me?”
“This is not an emergency.”
“We have a cabin booked.”
“That is not an emergency.”
Riley almost cheered.
Linda stepped closer to the doorbell camera.
Her face filled the screen.
Then Riley’s phone started ringing.
MOM.
Riley let it ring.
Again.
JASON.
Then Linda.
Then Jason.
Riley took a sip of her drink.
She watched through the camera.
Linda knocked again.
Finally Riley tapped the microphone icon.
“Hi, Mom.”
Every person outside froze.
Linda looked directly at the camera.
“Riley.”
“Yes.”
“Open the door.”
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?”
“I’m not there.”
Jason stepped closer.
“Where are you?”
Riley looked at the ocean.
“Nassau.”
Silence.
Linda blinked.
“What?”
“The Bahamas.”
“I know where Nassau is!”
“Then we’re caught up.”
Stephanie closed her eyes.
Jason stared at the camera.
“You actually left?”
Riley almost laughed.
“I told you I wouldn’t be home.”
Linda held up the useless key.
“You changed the locks?”
“Yes.”
“You changed your locks because of me?”
Riley felt the old guilt trying to rise.
She refused it.
“No, Mom.”