One Single Sound
Prologue
One single sound can sometimes change your life, alter your whole world. Jaime smiled happily as she put the finishing touches on a banana cream pie and listened to the laughter of her children playing together on the front lawn. She and Steve were so lucky, and they knew it. James and Lauren were almost ten, Jenna and Crystal had just turned four and Hannah...well, Hannah was six-going-on-thirty, but all five children somehow managed to play harmoniously together, with only slight, occasional squabbles. James was patiently teaching Hannah how to throw a Frisbee, while Lauren helped the youngest in chasing after the many mis-throws.
Steve came in the back door and moved stealthily toward the pie, dipping a finger into the filling before Jaime could stop him and receiving a swat on the hand with her spatula for his efforts. She re-smoothed the top as he tasted what he'd managed to swipe.
"Mmm-mm...what are my chances for getting a sample slice early?"
Jaime grinned. "Let's see...it's June. I'd say your chances are about equal to our getting a blizzard before nightfall."
"Damn." He leaned over to kiss her. "Kids outside?"
"Yes, and I am making dinner." Jaime twisted out of his arms before she was tempted to take him up on his unspoken suggestion. "You're more than welcome to help."
Giggles and peals of laughter bubbled up from the front yard, catching their attention, and their eyes met with all the love and pride of parenthood. Then, suddenly, Lauren screamed in raw terror, and they heard a gut-wrenching Squeeeal!, followed by an entire lifetime's worth of silence.
One single sound can sometimes change your life, alter your whole world.
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