“You’re ridiculous.”
Ethan smiled.
“Probably.”
Jillian wiped her eyes.
“I don’t even know what to say.”
Ethan looked embarrassed.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
We helped unpack the chair.
When Sophie transferred into it and pushed herself across the room—
smoothly, effortlessly—
her entire face changed.
She turned.
Rolled back.
Then spun once.
“Look!”
Ethan grinned.
“No squeaking.”
“No squeaking!”
For a few minutes, I forgot completely about the guitar.
I thought that would be the end of the story.
It wasn’t.
THE POLICE CAME THE NEXT MORNING
The pounding on my front door was loud enough to make me jump.
Not a normal knock.
Three heavy hits.
I walked toward the entryway.
Ethan appeared behind me.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know.”
I opened the door.
Two uniformed Bellmere police officers stood on the porch.
My stomach dropped instantly.
One looked at me.
“Ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“Are you Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Officer Daniels. This is Officer Cooper.”
I gripped the edge of the door.
“Is something wrong?”
“Is Ethan here?”
Behind me, Ethan went completely still.
My mind immediately started racing.
Had something gone wrong with the guitar sale?
Was selling it online illegal somehow because he was a minor?
Had someone complained?
Had the wheelchair transaction caused a problem?
“What did my son do?”
Ethan stepped beside me.
His face had gone pale.
Officer Daniels looked at him.
Then back at me.
“Ma’am…”
He paused.
“Are you aware of what your son did yesterday?”
My stomach tightened.
“Yes.”
“At least I think I am.”
The officer’s expression softened.
