Chapter 5 - The Eviction
Thomas looked at his watch. "You have exactly fifteen minutes to pack whatever fits into your BMW, Daniel. After that, I am calling the police to report a break-in."
"Thomas, please, it's Christmas Eve! It's freezing outside!" Eleanor begged, tears streaming down her face.
"My granddaughter was freezing," Thomas replied, completely unmoved. "Start packing."
Fifteen minutes later, Natalie stood on the porch, watching as Daniel and his weeping mother dragged three hastily packed garbage bags to the BMW. The red sports car was already long gone. Daniel looked back at the house—the warmth, the fire, the life he had so arrogantly thrown away—before getting into his car and driving out into the miserable, icy night.
Thomas closed the front door, locking the deadbolt with a solid, satisfying click.
He turned to his daughter. The storm outside was still raging, but inside, the air was finally clear.
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"I'll have a crew come tomorrow to box up the rest of his garbage and change the locks," Thomas said gently, his fierce demeanor melting back into the loving father she knew. "Let's go get Ava and bring her home."
Natalie smiled, pulling her mother's sweater tight around her. For the first time in months, she finally felt safe.
