Chapter 2: The First Thing He Heard
Patrice stared at her husband's open hand.
The keys pressed into her palm hard enough to leave little red marks.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then she laughed.
It was a strange, brittle sound.
"Derrick, you're acting ridiculous.""
"Give me the key.""
"Your mother is not in there.""
"Then opening the door shouldn't be a problem.""
Patrice folded her arms.
"You always do this.""
"Do what?""
"Turn every little thing into an accusation. I have spent the entire day taking care of this house, arranging dinner, getting everything ready, and now you're treating me like a criminal because a bird repeated something.""
Derrick looked at her.
"Where is my mother?""
"I told you. At Denise's.""
"Call Denise.""
Patrice blinked.
"What?""
"Call my aunt. Put her on speaker.""
"She might be asleep.""
"It's barely eight.""
"She has been having headaches.""
"Then send her a text.""
Patrice shook her head.
"You don't trust me.""
Derrick took one step closer.
"Right now, I trust the bird more than I trust you.""
Her face changed.
The insult landed harder than he expected.
Patrice looked toward the living room, where the parrot was watching them.
"That filthy thing has always been a problem.""
Derrick noticed the way she said it.
Not the bird.
That thing.
He lowered his voice.
"Why is Mom's bedroom door locked?""
"It's a guest room.""
"Why is it locked?""
"Because I said so.""
"And why do you have the key?""
Patrice looked down at the ring.
She had rehearsed so many explanations during the afternoon. She had prepared answers for Derrick's questions, even practiced crying in front of the bathroom mirror.
But she hadn't prepared for the bird.
Not the bird saying his childhood nickname.
Not the bird begging him not to leave his mother.
Derrick reached for the keys.
Patrice pulled them away.
"Don't touch me.""
"I'm asking for a key to a room in my own house.""
"Your mother isn't entitled to everything!""
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Derrick went completely still.
"What does that mean?""
Patrice pressed her lips together.
A faint scratching sound came from the other side of the door.
Both of them turned.
Then came a weak voice.
"Dre?""
Derrick's face drained of color.
He moved toward the door.
"Mom?""
A pause.
Then, barely louder than a whisper:
"Dre, is that you?""
He grabbed the handle.
"Mom, I'm here.""
Patrice stepped between him and the door.
"She's confused.""
"Move.""
"She has been doing this all day.""
"Move, Patrice.""
"She thinks everyone is trying to hurt her. That's why I had to keep her in there.""
Derrick stared at her.
"Had to?""
Patrice immediately looked away.
He reached for his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Her expression changed instantly.
"Don't you dare!""
She grabbed his wrist.
Derrick pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
"You're going to destroy this family over a misunderstanding?""
"Then explain it.""
Patrice's breathing became uneven.
"Your mother fell.""
The words came out quietly.
Derrick stopped.
"What?""
"She fell yesterday. I didn't want her wandering around and hurting herself again.""
"Yesterday?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you were working! You have so much pressure already. I was trying to handle it.""
Derrick looked at the locked door.
"How long has she been in there?""
"Not long.""
"How long, Patrice?""
She looked toward the kitchen.
"Since this afternoon.""
The silence that followed was worse than shouting.
Derrick knocked hard.
"Mom! Can you come to the door?""
A faint shuffle came from inside.
"I can't, baby.""
He closed his eyes.
"Why not?""
"My legs...""
His fingers tightened around the handle.
"Are you hurt?""
"I fell.""
Patrice moved closer.
"See? I told you. She's fine.""
Derrick turned sharply.
"Stop speaking for her.""
He crouched beside the door, trying to look through the narrow gap beneath it.
"Mom, can you tell me what happened?""
Gloria's voice trembled.
"I was waiting for you.""
Derrick swallowed.
"I know, Mom. I'm here now.""
"I kept asking Patrice to call you.""
He slowly turned toward his wife.
Patrice shook her head.
"She's mixing things up.""
But Gloria continued.
"She said you were busy. She said you didn't want me bothering you.""
Derrick stared at Patrice as though he were seeing a stranger.
"Did you tell her that?""
"I was trying to calm her down.""
"Did you tell my mother I didn't want to hear from her?""
Patrice raised her voice.
"She was calling you every ten minutes! You have a job, Derrick. You have responsibilities. I can't spend my entire life babysitting an old woman!""
The word babysitting seemed to echo through the hallway.
From the living room, the parrot gave a loud squawk.
"Bad Patrice!""
Patrice spun around.
"SHUT UP!""
The bird flapped its wings.
Derrick stood slowly.
He looked at the cage.
Then at his wife.
Then at the locked door.
"Unlock it.""
Patrice's eyes filled with tears.
"You're choosing her over me?""
"No. I'm choosing to find out why my mother is locked in a room.""
She finally released the keys.
They fell against the wooden floor.
Derrick picked them up.
There were six keys on the ring.
He tried the first.
Nothing.
The second turned halfway before stopping.
The third opened the lock.
A small click sounded.
Derrick placed his hand on the handle.
"Mom?""
"I'm here, baby.""
He pushed the door open.
The smell reached him first.
Stale air.
Cold food.
Something sour.
The room was dim, with the curtains drawn. A glass of water sat on the floor beside a narrow bed. An untouched sandwich rested on a paper plate.
And on the mattress, wearing the same blue cardigan he had bought her last Christmas, sat Gloria.
Her silver hair was tangled.
One slipper was missing.
Her right hand clutched the edge of the blanket.
But Derrick barely noticed any of that.
He noticed her eyes.
They were fixed on him.
And when he stepped inside, she started crying.
"Oh, my baby.""
He dropped to his knees.
"Mom.""
She reached for his face with trembling fingers.
"You're real?""
Derrick caught her hand.
"Of course I'm real.""
"I thought she was telling the truth.""
He looked at her.
"What truth?""
Gloria's lips trembled.
"She said you knew.""
Derrick's stomach tightened.
"Knew what?""
Gloria looked past his shoulder.
At Patrice.
May you like
Then she whispered something that made him turn toward his wife.
"She said you told her to put me away.""
