Chapter 28

Joshua had been swamped with work every day. For the past few evenings, knowing Queenie had just moved in and might need his help, he made a point to hustle home early. Tonight was different. Joshua didn't arrive until well past midnight after several business obligations. Entering the house and kicking off his shoes, a slightly tipsy Joshua noticed the porch lights were still glowing. "Must've had one too many," he muttered, his mind feeling a bit foggy. There was no way he'd left them on when he left this morning. "Mr. Newman? Just getting back?" A soft voice came from nearby. Startled, Joshua looked up into the warm glow of the porch lights and saw Queenie standing at the staircase in her nightgown. He suddenly remembered he had married Queenie. Even from a distance, Queenie caught a whiff of alcohol on him. She despised that smell. It was a reminder of Hanson, her father's drunken returns and the fights with Stacy. Though Stacy wasn't her biological mother, growing up in th