Chapter 8

It was almost Halloween, and in Southwest Florida its arrival was not heralded by colorful foliage and crisp breezes. It was an enjoyable time of year, nonetheless, and the three McKinley children were busy making Halloween pictures. Six-year-old Carly and her almost four-year-old twin brothers were busy putting stickers of ghosts, witches and pumpkins on black construction paper while their pretty, blonde nanny, Hayley looked on. Their mother, Katelyn was in the other room talking on the phone to their father. She walked into the kitchen and handed the phone to Carly. "Daddy wants to say hello," she told her daughter with a smile. "Then give the phone to the boys."

She walked into the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She smiled as her children were chatting happily with their father and took a sip of water. Although Katelyn looked tranquil and pretty in a black and white print skirt, a black blouse and strappy black sandals, she was starting to feel stressed. The nervousness and guilt she felt every time Mike was home was becoming unbearable. She set the water down on the granite countertop and went to take the phone from her son, Connor as he was saying good-bye to his daddy.