“Mom!” He was running out to the kitchen even as Daniel was setting down sacks on the counter and Margot was putting milk in the refrigerator. “Mom!”

Frowning, Margot closed the refrigerator door and looked up. “What?”

“Dad took my project! He stole my project!”

Margot glared at him. “You didn’t…”

Daniel looked at her, shrugged. “I threw it away.”

She glared at him. “Why did you do that? You didn’t have to do that.”

Yes I did, he wanted to respond, but he kept silent.

“Mom?” Tony said, imploring her with his eyes to somehow bring back the doll.

“Where is it?” Margot demanded. “Where did you put it?”

“It’s gone.” Daniel turned to face his son. “And that’s the end of it.”

“Mom!”

“Why is it so important?” Daniel asked him. “What’s so important to you about that doll?”

Tony reddened. “It’s not a doll!” he yelled.

“It’s a doll. And why does it mean so much to you?”

“Daniel,” Margot said warningly.

“It’s my project!”

“It’s not something you’re doing for school. Why are you doing it?”

“You can make another one—” Margot began.

“No!” Daniel shouted, and both of them jumped. He pointed at Tony. “You are not going to make another one! Do you hear me?”

The boy said nothing, looked to his mom. Margot was silent.

“You are forbidden to make one of those things again. And if I catch you doing it, you’ll be grounded for a month. Do you understand me?”

Tony angrily turned and stalked down the hall, slamming the door to his room.

“I mean it!” Daniel called after him.

“What was that?” Margot demanded. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“I just don’t like that doll.”

“Why? It’s evil?”

He whirled to face her, thrilled that she’d seen it too, but when he met her eyes he saw only anger there. She was being sarcastic, he realized.

“You need to get some help,” she told him. “I don’t know what’s happening with you, but I don’t like it. You need to see a psychiatrist.”

A psychiatrist.

It was a chance, an opportunity.

But he didn’t take it.

“I’m not going to a shrink,” he said.

She looked at him. “You need to do something.”

“I just don’t want a doll like that in our house.” He turned without looking at her and walked out to the family room. He switched on the TV, the local news, and a few moments later he heard her angrily slamming cupboards and drawers as she put away the groceries.

SEVEN

Laurie

Laurie sat across from Josh at the small wrought-iron table adjacent to the coffeepot at the rear of the bookstore. She hadn’t slept well all week and when he’d called her on it, she told him about the dreams.