Chapter 60

Jonas bit his lip, his determination shining in his young eyes. He insisted on checking that place. Lorraine hesitated. But she eventually gave in when she saw how determined Jonas was. "Alright, but we're staying outside." She finally relented. "We'll just take a quick look from a distance, okay?" She didn't want to scare him, but the idea of approaching that shack, especially with stories of a strange old man hanging around, made her uneasy. "Okay," Jonas said, his small face set with resolve. Despite his age, there was something remarkably grown-up about his demeanor. His steady steps toward the shack reminded Lorraine of me. When they reached the door, Jonas tried to peek through the window. Standing on tiptoes, he squinted, but the grimy glass revealed nothing. "Ms. Sommerton, can you check? Maybe Xavier is inside," Jonas said, turning to her with wide, pleading eyes. Lorraine peered inside, but the windows were too dark. She couldn't see anything. "I'll call your dad,"