#Chapter 178 – Jailbreak

Emma looks at Delia nervously as they pull up to the road block near her father’s house.

“Something’s going on,” she murmurs as a Beta raises his hand, requiring her to stop the car.

“Um,” Delia says, biting her lip and considering. “Is there any reason that they should like…suspect us? That we should turn around now?”

Emma shakes her head slowly. “I mean…unless Joyce told someone he was meeting you? But he’s always so discreet with his affairs.”

She should know. In their six years of marriage, Joyce had had nearly forty affairs with women, all of which Emma knew about due to the same private investigator who had found Evelyn. She kept the evidence for a rainy day, packed into a storage unit across town. Every month, if the investigator had more information for her, she added it to the binder.

They were casual affairs mostly, none of them deeply emotional – girlfriends who lasted a few weeks and months. His relationships with s*x workers lasted longer, likely because he could control them with money. Emma had never been particularly bothered or surprised by these assignations, considering that their own relationship started by him cheating with her on her sister.

Emma rolls down her window as the Beta approached. “Hello,” she says smiling pleasantly. “I’m just coming back from my vacation – is…” she looks around the barrier, worried, “is everything okay? With my family?”

The Beta nods to her, expressionless, and then walks away a few steps to speak into the radio attached to his shoulder. When he receives a reply, he nods and returns to the car.

“All is well, ma’am. Your family is looking forward to seeing you.”

With that, he waves her though.

“Well,” Delia says, taking a deep breath. “We’re in for it now. Are you sure we shouldn’t have like…tried to sneak in? Not gone through the front door?”

“No,” Emma says quietly, winding down the road towards the house. “They don’t have any reason to suspect us yet – we’re just a few days late from vacation. If they catch us sneaking in the back, it will be worse.”

Delia nods, on board with the plan, but still anxious.

When they pull up to the house and park in the set of garages around the side, Emma knows that it’s just a little too quiet.

house is the same, like a ghost town. Emma swallows thickly, looking around. It’s not a busy house at any times – far too much unhappiness, here, for any joy and laughter

murmurs Delia, running a hand

both hear it at the same time – the sound of laughter coming from the back garden. Instinctually, they

a patio chair out in the late afternoon sunshine, sipping a glass of iced tea and shouting

the wicket, Ian!” she says, laughing. “Not over

far too long since they’ve had children in this

laugh and turns to her, his face breaking into a smile instantly. “Aunt Emma!” he shouts, running over to her and wrapping his arms around her.

and turns to Delia, equally excited, but Delia cuts him off

hand and giving him a subtle wink. “I’m Delia, your aunt’s friend!” She forces a smile onto her face, hoping that

god, plays along. “Hi, I’m Ian!” he says simply, shaking her hand and then

worried for you!” Mrs. Walsh waves hello to Delia as well, gesturing to the

Emma say, coming to sit

to see her daughter home safe and sound. “We haven’t

saying “what?” just as Delia exclaims “Joyce!?

to communicate that she needs to tone it down. Delia either doesn’t see or

Mrs. Walsh says, confused. Emma shakes

Joyce in awhile,” Ian says, climbing up into his aunt’s lap. “Not that I liked him

are you doing here, little one,” Emma says, smiling at him, pleased that her nephew is such a talented

says, smiling up at her. Then, he frowns. “Though grandpapa

to pretend this is new news, opening her eyes wide as she

here, Emma,” she says, running

Emma says, pretending a fresh horror. “You can’t just lock Evelyn in the

I didn’t lock her there,” Mrs. Walsh says quietly, fiddling with the straw in

are quiet for a moment, Mrs. Walsh looking down at her drink, Emma and Delia looking at

you’re….okay with that? Mom?”

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