WE ENTERED THE HOUSE via the back door. Not unusual. Though, it did seem unusual walking into an empty kitchen when I knew everyone bar us was home. I guessed it'd been a while since I'd crawled home at the larks' rising.
My boots stomped the tiled floor on my way through to the hallway, but as I went to make the turn for the stairs, Kyle tugged me round and thumbed toward the living room door.
"You owe it to him," he said, before he squeezed past me and jogged up the stairs himself.
I glanced toward the door he'd indicated, a twitch of my ears picking up the breaths from within.
"Are you coming in, or not?" Dad said from beyond the ajar door.
"I'm coming," I said, and pushed my way inside.
On the seat nearest the window, Dad sat balanced on the edge of the cushion, his arms overhang
