Iris' breath caught. A coldness spread outward from the center of her chest. 'If Lucas doesn't go back, what methods would they use to force him into submission? What would the consequences be?' She could not bring herself to imagine it. Even more unfathomable was the thought that a mother could speak to her own son this way.
The water in the bathroom stopped. Iris quickly set the phone back in its place, picked up a piece of fruit, and fixed her eyes on the television as though nothing had happened. Lucas walked out in the pajamas they had bought together at the supermarket, a matching set. His were white, hers were black. Neither of them was young anymore, but looking at him, Iris still felt a swell of quiet happiness. At least in this moment, she had him.
Lucas leaned in and kissed he
