A Heart for a Heart Chapter 05
I was on my knees in the living room when James and Sue arrived, cleaning a photo of Stan.
I was gentle, fearful of hurting him.
He was smiling so brightly in that photo, his eyes creasing into little crescent moons.
I once swore to protect that smile, to fend off all evils of the world for his sake.
Who could have known that the worst evil was right there with us, and it had to be the father he loved most!
Sue, her cheeks pale, shrieked, “Wanda! Where is Nathan?! Where are you keeping him?!”
I kept quiet but never stopped cleaning the photo, so Sue kept shrieking, “Give him back to me, or I’m calling the cops! Once you’re charged with kidnapping, let’s see how you’ll keep your place as Mrs. Frost!”
Mrs. Frost?!
They killed my son and still thought I would covet that position!
I looked up at her and quietly said, “So you came to me when your son is gone. Who should I go to instead?”
Sue paused, as she was shrewd-and guilty enough-to catch on to my insinuation.
James was panicking too, but still thought his plan was flawless, and that they could still lie their way out of this.
Frowning as if he was holding back his rage, he snapped, “Nathan is innocent! Don’t you dare take it out on him when you’re upset with Sue!
“It hurts me that we lost Stan, but you can’t take away Nathan because of your own loss and put Sue through the same situation! Just tell me where Nathan is. A life is at stake here!”
His words left me dumbfounded and hurting, like I had my heart gouged out too.
I held Stan’s photo tightly against myself, but no matter how hard I gripped it, it wasn’t filling the hole in my chest.
“A life is at stake?” I laughed wryly, before snapping coldly, “When he just went missing for hours?! My dear Stan had an accident and then got his heart taken away! So I guess some lives are more at stake than the others?!”
James’ face dropped, and he promptly looked away, afraid to look me in the eye as he stuttered, “W-What are you talking about?! The mortuary report is clear-he died from blood loss! Stop this nonsense, or Stan won’t rest in peace!”
“Blood loss? Really?” I asked quietly.
“The doctor said it himself!” Sue cried urgently without herself noticing. “What, are you saying he’s lying?! Quit being hysterical and give me Nathan back!”
I ignored her, however, my gaze was miserable as I looked straight into James’ eyes. “Every night, I dream of Stan. He begs me to help, saying that his chest hurts-that someone took away his heart.
“Who could be so cruel to take away a child’s heart? You’re Stan’s father! He always loved you and admired you, but he never came to you in your dreams?”
James was sweating all over his brow, his voice cracking as he argued, “Please, Wanda. You must be paranoid and distraught. I’ll take you on a trip when I have time, alright?”
