It doesn’t matter.

Yes it does, actually, I said, livid. Of course it does.

Brenda rang the doorbell again—Kyle? Buddy? Don’t do this to me. I love you, buddy, you know that, and you know I don’t want you getting mixed up with the wrong kind of people. These people are not good people. They’re not normal people—

Shawn snorted—Show me someone who is, lady.

They don’t know you, Kyle, Brenda continued, shouting. And they don’t have your best interests at heart, okay? They’re scared and messed up insecure people who want something from you, okay? You gotta trust me on this, I’ve been around, I know all about these kinds of people. They seem real nice and sweet and they tell you you’re special but they’re sick in the head and they drag you down and take and take and take from you, Kyle. Kyle? I know you can hear me. Come to the window if you can hear me—

All the while, as Brenda monologued to the front door, Kyle remained defiant, telling me he was seventeen, and could leave home if he wanted.

She’s your legal guardian, I said fuming, pointing towards the front door.

Doesn’t matter, he’s over sixteen, Howard said.

We’re his guardians too, Damian said.

Yeah, tell that to a court, I replied.

I glared at Kyle and told him he needed to speak to her.

I have nothing to say.

Kyle—

Just then my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw it was Ashley calling. I moved across the living room to a quiet corner to answer it—Ash?

Why haven’t you been picking up?

I’m sorry, everything’s been so—

I’ve been telling Dad that he has to stop this but he keeps saying ‘They have her son.’ And what am I supposed to say to that? How can I argue?

Ash—

No listen, Mom. I need you to listen to me. I told Dad that you guys all just want to be left alone.

Yes.

And he says he has, he left, he left you alone and look where that’s gotten us. A child has been kidnapped.

That’s—