As if on cue, the old woman and her grandson emerge from the house. The young man quickly retrieves the ball and throws it back to Tyler. “Catch it,” Dani whispers, leaning forward to watch, her forehead resting on the glass. “Please catch it.” But her sweet son misses it again. “Damn it,” Dani mutters as the ball rolls into the McKays’ driveway.
“It’s Mark, right?” she hears Nick ask the young man. “Feel like joining us?”
Mark smiles. “Sure. That’d be great.”
Another door opens and Sean Grant appears, his twins rushing past him to take part in the impromptu game, his daughter choosing to remain at his side. Seconds later, Aiden Young opens his front door. He hangs back, despite calls to join in.
“Hey, you, up there,” her husband suddenly calls to Dani, spotting her in the window and waving her down. “Get that gorgeous ass down here.”
Heads shoot toward her as Ben bursts into gales of laughter. “You said ‘ass’!”
Dani says nothing.
What can she say?
Her husband has robbed her of her voice.
Whatever power she felt earlier is gone.