Read Children of the Fog for Free Online Page A

day.
    Yeah, they'd been the happy couple, the envy of all their friends, especially the ones who thought Sadie and Philip had everything. They didn't realize that she was putting on a façade. In public, she'd smile and tell everyone that things were wonderful. However, in private…
    There was no denying it. She was a miserable mess.
    It started with the occasional drink before bed. To calm her nerves since Philip was always late. But one drink became two. Then three. Before she knew it, she started drinking during the day, hiding bottles where Philip would never find them.
    A second miscarriage sent her into a bout of severe depression and she was sure she was being punished, that she'd never have a baby. She spent most nights with her other 'best friend'—a bottle of rum.
    Then Philip started staying out later and later.
    Her life changed forever the night that he was promoted to partner. At a special banquet, a new partner and his wife were celebrating the arrival of a baby boy. The attention they received and the accolades from the senior law partners made Philip reconsider the idea of children. Suddenly, having a child seemed the perfect way to elevate his social and professional status.
    A year later, Sam was born.
    Sadie had quit drinking the moment she found out she was pregnant. It had been rough at first, but with Leah's help and Sam as the reward, she'd fought all her demons and won.
    She'd been sober ever since.
     
    As she slipped into bed, she clamped her eyes shut, blocking off tears that threatened to escape. She was not going to cry. Not over Philip.
    Outside, a dog barked.
    "I guess a puppy for Sam is out of the question then."
    It seemed as though she had just closed her eyes, when the sound of breaking glass woke her. A piercing scream sent her heart racing and she flew out of bed.
    When she left her bedroom, the first thing she noticed was the chill that swept down the hall. The second thing she saw was Sam's half-open door.
    She pushed it. "Jesus!"
    Her son's bedroom blasted her with frigid air. When she glanced toward the far wall, she spotted the culprit. The blinds were wide open and the window was shattered. On the floor, a foot from Sam's bed, was a brick.
    "What's going on?" Philip demanded, flicking on the light.
    Speechless, she reached a hand to her throat as her eyes swept over the room, then screeched to a stop on Sam's bed.
    His empty bed.
    Panic seared through her, hot and fearful. "Sam?"
    Behind her, the closet door creaked. She moved closer, but Philip beat her to it. When he whipped it open, she was overwhelmed by relief. Her sweet boy was curled up in the corner, tears flooding his face.
    She swept Sam into her arms. "Only my bat boy would hide in the closet," she murmured, stoking his hair. "Philip, who would do such a thing?"
    "Shit, I don't know. Probably just kids out carousing. Tuck Sam back into bed and we'll clean this up."
    "I'll put him in our bed," she said dryly. "He's not sleeping in here tonight."
    "Fine. I guess I'll clean up the glass then."
    Sadie hefted Sam to her hip and made for the door. She could feel his heart beating rapidly, and it didn't slow until she reached her bedroom and tucked him into the king-sized bed. When he reached up, she kissed his forehead. "No worries. You're safe, honey. I promise."
    Lugging the vacuum behind him, Philip paused in the doorway. His gaze wouldn't meet hers.
    "I'll report it first thing in the morning," he said before disappearing.
    A minute later, the vacuum roared to life.
    These were the moments—although rare—that reminded her of why she had married Philip. He always took care of business.
     

5
     
    Leah arrived just after one-thirty on Sunday afternoon.
    Sadie took one look at her friend's downcast face and knew instinctively that something was wrong.
    "What?" she demanded.
    "They didn't have your cake order, Sadie."
    "But I called it in last week. How could they—" She caught sight of Leah's sly grin and twinkling eyes.