“Yes, please,” she answered without taking her eyes off the cartoon.
Jax pinched Cherri’s ass, then kissed her quickly. “I won’t be back late.”
“We’re having steak and mac and cheese for dinner. About what time do you think you’ll be back?”
“Five thirty or six. Bye, honey,” he said to Paisley, who yelled “Bye” with her eyes fixed on the TV.
Cherri placed two cups of cocoa on the coffee table and a plate with two cookies. “You have to sit up to have your snack,” she said.
Paisley sat up, took a cookie, and slowly chewed as she watched the rest of the cartoon.
*
With several plastic bags hanging on her wrist, Cherri opened the back door and went into the kitchen.
“Why isn’t the door making noise?” Paisley asked, setting down a small bag.
“I guess I forgot to turn on the alarm, sweetie. Here, give me your bag.”
Paisley handed her the bag and she took out a box of vanilla wafers.
“Can I have some, Mommy?”
“Just one. I don’t want you to spoil your appetite. I’m making your favorite, mac ’n cheese.”
Lifting her arms in the air, she giggled. “Yay!”
Cherri laughed and ran her fingers through her soft hair. “You goofball.” She leaned down and kissed her. “You’re the cutest.” She opened the box and placed one cookie in a small plastic bowl. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Mommy.”
Paisley scrambled out of the room and Cherri continued putting away the groceries. Then a high-pitched cry cracked the air and Cherri rushed into the living room to find a crying Paisley kneeling beside their Christmas tree that was toppled over and lying on its side. Slivers of broken ornaments picked up the afternoon sunlight. Paisley reached toward a shiny blue shard.
Cherri leapt forward. “Don’t touch it. You’ll cut yourself.” She pulled Paisley’s hand away and enveloped the sobbing six-year-old in her arms. “It’s okay, sweetie. Daddy will put it back up when he gets home. I guess it was too heavy. You and I were pretty heavy-handed with the decorations.” She wiped her daughter’s wet cheeks.
“Where are all the presents?” Paisley asked between sobs.
“They’re probably under the tree. It’s all good. Mommy will clean it up and Daddy will fix it.”
“But everything’s broken.”
“I know. We’ll get new decorations. That’ll be a ton of fun. Would you like to do it after I clean up the glass?” Paisley nodded while wiping her nose. “This is going to be great. We’ll get everything new and you can pick out the ornaments.” She hugged her daughter and kissed her.
Paisley smiled. “Can I get any colors I want?”
“Sure. Your job will be ornaments and mine will be garland. Let me just get the vacuum. If you stay here, you have to promise me you won’t go near the tree or touch anything on it or the floor. The glass is really sharp.”
“I’ll just sit and wait for you, Mommy.” Paisley climbed up on the sofa and folded her hands in her lap as she stared at the tree.
“I’ll be back in a sec.” As she rushed to the kitchen, she glanced behind her to make sure Paisley hadn’t moved, smiling when she saw her still seated. She’s such a good girl. I can’t believe the fucking tree fell over. I’ve never had that happen before. Shit. Like I don’t have enough to do.
When she walked into the kitchen, she stopped dead. Something’s off in here. A chill skated down her spine. Glancing at the counter, she realized the bag of chips was gone. Her mind whirred as she tried to remember if she’d put them away before she heard Paisley cry out. I must have, or they’d still be on the counter. I’m being silly.
Instead of going to the broom closet, she just stood there glancing around the large kitchen. An ominous silence crept into the room and her pulse banged in her ears. What the fuck’s wrong with me? She tried to dispel the dread weaving around her nerves, but she couldn’t.
“Are you coming back, Mommy?” Paisley’s small voice broke through the dead quiet.
“Uh… yeah. Stay seated. I’m getting the vacuum now.” I can’t believe how silly I’m being. She forced herself to take a step, then another and another until she was in front of the broom closet. With clammy fingers, she opened the door wide. She didn’t know what she’d expected, maybe a fanged demon or a demented doll. She giggled nervously. That’s the last time I let Jax talk me into watching a horror movie. The night before, after Paisley had fallen asleep, Jax had put on Black Christmas, drew her close to him under the covers, and held her tight as a madman attacked sorority sisters. And now I’m imaging all kinds of crazy shit.
Sighing, she saw the vacuum buried in the back of the closet. Great. Pushing the mop out of the way, she moved things around.
Creak. The hairs on the back of her neck rose and she stood frozen in motion, her hand clutching the top of the vacuum. Creak. A door groaned on its hinges. Paralyzed in place, she couldn’t move, breathe, or speak.
Then in one heart-stopping moment, she felt watched, as if the Devil himself was scraping a fingernail along her spine. Fuck. Someone’s in the kitchen with me. I know it.
A choking stench of body odor assaulted her nostrils, making her eyes water. Droplets of sweat formed on her forehead as goose bumps laminated her cold skin.
“Mommy, can I get up? I wanna come in the kitchen.”
Terror sliced through her. “No! Stay where you are.” Her voice trembled.
“Are you okay, Mommy?”
Forcing the bile down her throat, a tight pull of fear threatened to erupt from her. “I’m more than okay, sweetie. I just had to find the vacuum. I’m coming. Be a good girl and stay where you are.”
“Hurry.”
“I will.”
She dragged the vacuum out of the closet and shut the door. From her peripheral vision, she saw someone standing next to her. Jumping from fright, she gasped and clutched her hands to her throat. Turning around quickly, she screamed when a man in a black ski mask faced her, his brown eyes fixed intently on her.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?”
She dropped the vacuum and stepped away, but the masked man reached out and grabbed her arm, jerking her to him.
“Who’s that, Mommy?” Paisley’s voice quivered.
Cherri darted her eyes away from him and saw Paisley standing near the kitchen island. Like a lioness protecting her young, Cherri kicked the guy hard in the balls and he groaned, releasing her. Using the few seconds he’d be incapacitated to her advantage, she grabbed Paisley’s hand and dashed down the stairs. Behind her, she heard him grunt.
Thud. Thud. Thud. His heavy footfalls on the stairs pounded in her ears.
With her heart slamming against her rib cage, she dragged Paisley through rooms, ignoring her questions. The only goal she had was to reach the safe room.
In her panicked state, she thought she could feel his breath on her neck, but she didn’t dare turn around. Every second counted.
With trembling fingers she punched in the code, and the steel door swung open. Cherri shoved Paisley in, and just as she turned to close the door, the intruder stuck his foot inside. Anger flashed in his eyes.