CHAPTER TWO
Sunday was the weekly family dinner, not Tuesday night. That hadn’t stopped Michael Patterson from jumping at his mom’s invitation. A second home-cooked meal in three days was worth driving through Charleston’s rush-hour traffic. For over a month, he’d bounced from one friend’s place to another. Eating fast food, takeout, and pizza was getting old. Besides, he wanted to see his parents before he left town for the rest of December.
Michael opened the front door, not bothering to knock. He’d grown up in this house with his brother and two sisters. After he stepped inside, he closed the door.
The sharp pine scent from the decorated tree in the corner and the faint smell of smoke from the wood burning in the fireplace hung on the air. Only Christmas carols were missing. Not hear
