Chapter 17 - THE BUTTON On a Tuesday afternoon, Leo stood in the hallway holding his emergency device.
Owen crouched beside him.
Jackson watched from several feet away.
Leo looked nervous.
"Press it," Jackson said.
"What if nobody comes?"
Jackson knelt.
"Then we fix it again."
Leo pressed.
Jackson's phone immediately sounded.
Three seconds later, Owen's radio came alive.
A security officer appeared at the end of the hallway.
Leo's eyes widened.
"It works."
Jackson smiled.
"It works."
Leo pressed it again.
Then again.
Then five more times.
Owen laughed.
"I think he's testing the system."
Jackson laughed too.
The sound felt unfamiliar.
He hadn't realized how long it had been since the house had felt normal.
Leo eventually handed the device back.
"Now I'm safe?"
Jackson pulled him close.
"Now you know what to do."
Leo smiled.
"And Daddy comes."
May you like
Jackson kissed his forehead.
"Every time."
