The Silence of the Hallway
The Silence of the Hallway
I. The Quiet After the Storm
»I’m sorry, Mr. Morrison, » Annie whispered, her voice barely carrying down the dim hallway. She adjusted her grip on Justin, whose head was still heavy with sleep against her shoulder. Jordan clung to the hem of her gray apron, rubbing his puffy eyes.
Annie looked terrified. She knew the rules. Mrs. Morrison’s bedroom was a sanctuary, kept locked under Kevin’s strict orders to preserve the memory of his late wife.
Kevin stood up slowly, his joints popping in the quiet corridor. The absolute authority he carried into corporate boardrooms felt completely useless here. He looked at his sons. Their cheeks were still stained with tears, but their breathing was calm, their posture relaxed.
»What happened, Annie? » Kevin asked, his voice unexpectedly raw. « How did you get them to swim through the screaming? The last nanny couldn’t even keep them in the same room. »
Annie took a quiet breath, stepping out of the master bedroom and gently placing Justin on his feet. The little boy immediately reached out, grabbing his brother Jordan’s hand, but they both stayed close to Annie’s side.
»They weren’t trying to be bad, Mr. Morrison, » Annie said softly, her dark eyes steady despite her fear. « Jordan was having a panic attack. He was throwing his toys because he couldn’t breathe. The house manager wanted to call the private doctor to sedate him, but I told them to leave. »
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