Chapter 4 - The Promise in the Photograph
Noah carried the photograph home inside his shirt.
He did not want rain, sweat, or curiosity to damage it.
Grace went completely still when she saw it.
“Where did you get this?”
“Mr. Hale.”
Grace sat down.
Lily leaned over her shoulder.
“That’s Daddy.”
“Yes.”
Grace’s voice nearly disappeared.
Noah pointed at the woman.
“Who is she?”
Grace did not answer.
“Mom?”
“Her name was Margaret Hale.”
“Samuel’s wife?”
Grace nodded.
Noah pointed to the writing.
“What promise?”
Grace pressed the photograph against her knee.
“You need to return this.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“You’re eleven, Noah.”
“I’m old enough to sleep in a storage shed because you say we have no choice.”
Grace flinched.
Noah immediately regretted the words.
But he did not take them back.
“If I’m old enough for that, I’m old enough to know about Dad.”
Grace stared at him for a long time.
“Your father worked at Hale’s Bakery when he was seventeen.”
“He told me he dropped out of school.”
“He did.”
Grace traced Daniel’s face in the picture.
“Samuel and Margaret gave him work when nobody else would.”
“What happened?”
“He left.”
“Why?”
Grace closed her eyes.
“Because something went wrong.”
Before Noah could ask more, pounding shook the shed door.
Grace stood quickly.
A man’s voice came from outside.
“Anybody in there?”
Noah recognized the property manager.
Grace pushed the photograph into Noah’s hand.
“Stay behind me.”
The door opened.
Mr. Benson stepped inside.
He looked at the mattress, the water bottles, the children, and the bread.
“I told you this couldn’t continue.”
Grace’s face turned pale.
“I get paid Friday.”
“This isn’t about rent.”
He held up an official notice.
“The owner is clearing the property tomorrow.”
Lily grabbed Grace’s leg.
“Where are we going?”
Grace said nothing.
Mr. Benson looked uncomfortable.
“You have until eight in the morning.”
Then he left.
For the rest of the afternoon, Grace packed everything they owned into two duffel bags.
That evening, Noah returned to the bakery alone.
Samuel was locking the front door.
“I need to ask you something.”
Samuel looked at his face.
“What happened?”
Noah held up the photograph.
“What did my father promise you?”
Samuel stared at him.
Then he noticed the bags across Noah’s shoulder.
His expression hardened.
“Where are you sleeping tonight?”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“No.”
May you like
Samuel unlocked the bakery again.
“That question comes first.”
