All of that meant that I had no clue what I was going back to while I was on my way home. There were no news updates via the radio on the way there either thanks to my Spotify playlist. I managed to officially check out for almost four full days.

That was why it shocked me to find reporters camped out in front of my parent’s estate when I drove there to return the cabin keys. “What in the world?” I hissed out under my breath as I put in the code to get beyond the gated driveway.

“Mrs. Tucker, where have you been hiding?”

“Mina, how does it feel being public enemy number one?”

“Why weren’t you there for your husband?”

“Can you tell us how you feel about…”

The shouting continued as I rolled my window up, blasted my music louder, and drove to the front door of my parents’ house. There was no one there to greet me, not that I would expect it under normal circumstances, but with the press camped out at the front of the driveway, I sort of expected someone to leap out of my mother’s prized rosebushes or something.

“Oh Mina, why didn’t you come back sooner?”

“Come back sooner?” I asked as I waved away my mother’s oddly fervent hug. “Why would I come back sooner?”

“I know I did not raise you to be that heartless,” my mother sniffed as she took a step back and examined me as though I’d grown three heads in my time away.

“Mina, is that you?” My father called from down the hallway somewhere, most likely heading toward us from his office. “We expected you back much sooner,” he chided as he made it all the way to me. “I was about to send someone for you. You had me so worried.”

“I’ve been in the mountains without cell or internet service for days. I also never turned on the TV,” minus Netflix, which they didn’t need to know about, “so I have no clue why you guys keep going on about how I should have been here sooner. I told you when I picked the keys up that I was going to destress before exams this week.”

“Oh no!” My mother gasped as her hands moved to cover her mouth. My father’s eyes widened as he moved in to wrap his arms around me. I still had no clue what was happening.

“Where is she?!” That bellowing from the front door sounded a lot like Wes. The minute I turned and saw him, his eyes laser-focused on mine and there was pure fury in them.

“Now, Wesley, you need to calm yourself. She didn’t know.”

“Like hell I’m about to believe that,” Wes yelled at my father.

“Would someone please, explain to me what the hell is going on?”

Wes laughed, though it sounded more menacing than humorous. “Right, like you don’t already know. So, you not showing up is what? Punishment for the way he treated you?”