No Seat at the Table

~VALERIE~

The phone rang at seven in the morning.

I had barely slept, checking on Leo every hour to make sure he was still there, still safe. The relief of having him back hadn't faded the fear that lived in my chest now.

"Miss Hayes?" Mrs. Vance's voice was crisp through the phone. "I would like Leo to join me for breakfast this morning."

My stomach dropped. "Mrs. Vance, I…”

"Eight o'clock. In th