ry

frame housed in a subterranean laboratory beneath our corporate headquarters. It held every line of code I had ever writ

dual-authorization protocol for the lab' s entrance. A retinal scan and a palm print. From both of us. Simultaneously. "T

aution had be

s assistant, a severe-looking man named Marcus, met us at the steps. He didn' t

e commanded over his shoulder.

g me alone on the windy tarmac. An hour later, another car arrived

ead. "Jagger, honey, listen to me. Do you wan

ere Blake' s eyes, but they held none of Blake' s col

dy?" he asked, his

the gut. I took a shaky br

," he said. "I don' t like him anymore. Marcus told me if I cried

er, my own anger a burning coal in my chest. "He can' t h

is small arms wrapping around

hardened

ned in my mind long before the first brick was laid. The security guards at the front desk greeted

the sub-level lab wouldn' t r

mputerized voice announced. "Se

' s not here," he stated, his simple ob

lm after the scanner recorded my print. "This way, we' ll always have to do it together," he' d said, his

re the money and the fame. It was a small, two-bedroom walk-up I had kept, paying the rent ev

n memories. Jagger and I moved through the small rooms,

d, pointing to a blue stuffed b

ours' anymore. Every gift from Blake, every item associated with him, was left behind. I watched hi

e tears welling in my eyes. He came over

Blake had painted it with Jagger a year ago, during a rare weekend when he was fully present, when he was still a father

lopsided sun. My hand trembled as I picked up a black marker from

cribbled over his own stick figure. "I' ll draw a new one, Mommy

ne person who had remained steadfastly in m

the trash. The clothes he' d left in the closet were bagged for donation. I even found a fo

the bathroom, I found a box of his allergy medication. He was prone to severe, debilitating reactions to dust and po

ean slate. I held my son' s hand, our single suitcase by th

ooked disheveled, his hair unkempt, his shirt wrinkled. He ree

n?" he demanded, his eyes bl

shielding him. "Don' t, Bl

ircase. It was Cassidy, wrapped in one of Blake'

o worried. Please don' t send me away again. Mrs. Davenport... sh

okay, little bird. I' m here." He ran a hand over her hair, then

s have been saying things. Spreading rumors that Mrs. Davenport wants me gone. They' ve been... unkind."

u see what you' ve done? You and your jealousy.

vered Jagger' s eyes with my hand. "It'

, Avery, not terrorize her," B

"Please, Mr. Davenport, don' t blame your wife. It' s my f

He held her against his chest, cradling her. He looked at me

d, his voice low and threat

desperate whisper. "Mommy, when are we goin

heart aching. "Soon,

them. Blake was whispering something to her, his lips brushing against her ear. She giggled, a high, tinkling so

ace, and a hollow roar filled my ears. It was the