I thought Vanessa’s obsession with an ancient freezer was grief talking. Then I found a loose panel at the bottom and realized she had been protecting something.
“Don’t.”
I spun around so fast I hit my elbow on the freezer lid.
Vanessa stood at the bottom of the basement stairs.
She wasn’t wearing a coat even though it was January.
I could see the shock on her face
“How did you know I was here?”
She ignored the question.
“Please step away from the freezer.”
I looked down at the screwdriver in my hand.
Then at the loose white panel under the empty baskets.
“What’s under this?”
Vanessa glanced toward the basement window.
“Something your mother asked me to protect.”
“From who?”
Her eyes finally met mine.
“Your brother.”
I actually laughed.
Not because anything was funny. Because my brother, Ryan, was Vanessa’s husband.
“You’re protecting something from your own husband?”
“I know how it sounds.”
“No, I don’t think I do.”
Before she could answer, the front door opened upstairs.
Vanessa flinched.
Not startled. Afraid.
That was when my anger disappeared.
Footsteps crossed Mom’s kitchen.
Heavy. Familiar.
Vanessa hurried to the freezer, reached behind a bag of frozen peas I’d left on the floor, and pulled out something tiny.
