Chapter 15 - An Unexpected Visitor
The peaceful weekend routine of our new neighborhood was interrupted on a quiet Saturday morning by a sharp, insistent knock on our front door. I paused, wiping my hands on a kitchen towel, and walked cautiously through the hallway. I looked through the peephole and saw a man standing alone on the porch, wearing a worn-out flannel shirt, faded jeans, and a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead. It was my cousin, David—the only member of our extended family who had possessed a moral compass, having reached out early on to express absolute disgust over Carla's monstrous actions during the barbecue. I unlocked and opened the door cautiously, keeping the chain guard partially engaged. David looked tired, his broad shoulders carrying the heavy, visible weight of a family completely torn apart by collateral damage and toxic fallout. He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Hey, Naomi," he said softly, keeping his hands tucked deep into his pockets. "I hope I'm not intruding on your weekend. I just... I wanted to see how Lily was doing. And to let you know I'm still around if you ever need an honest family connection." I looked at him, recognizing the genuine, untainted concern shining in his eyes. He hadn't enabled Carla, he hadn't defended my parents' cruel and heartless grandparents' rights petition, and he had never asked me to compromise my boundaries. Stepping aside, I unhooked the chain and swung the front door wide open. "She's out back building a massive Lego castle, David. Come on in."
