Chapter 8 — Following Chloe inside to make amends for the false accusation
Chloe walked briskly across the threshold and headed straight for the living room.
She sank down onto the far end of the neutral beige sofa.
She pulled a tissue from the side table and pressed it gently against her reddened eyes.
Her breathing remained ragged and shallow.
Samantha followed her inside a few seconds later.
She took a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
Samantha reached out and laid a comforting hand on Chloe’s knee.
She spoke in a low, gentle tone designed to soothe her daughter’s frayed nerves.
“He knows he was wrong, sweetheart,” Samantha whispered.
Chloe sniffled and shook her head.
“He didn’t even want to listen to me,” Chloe said, her voice shaking.
“He just started yelling right away.”
“I know,” Samantha replied.
“And he is going to have to make that right.”
Oliver lingered in the entryway for a long moment.
He stared down at the hardwood floor near the front door.
The heavy silence of the house pressed in on him from all sides.
He took a slow, deep breath and stepped over the threshold.
He walked quietly into the living room.
He stopped in front of the low wooden coffee table.
Neither Samantha nor Chloe looked up as he approached.
Oliver crouched down slowly until he was resting on the edge of the coffee table.
He placed his hands flat on his knees.
He stared across the short distance toward his daughter.
Oliver opened his mouth to speak up and offer a direct and heartfelt apology for losing his temper.