Daniel Found a Working Two-Way Radio Hidden Inside His Son’s Bedroom Wall — Then a Voice on the Other End Revealed Who Had Been Contacting Noah in Secret
Chapter 5 — What Henry Had Told Noah
Rachel sat beside Noah.
“What did Grandpa tell you?”
Noah looked frightened.
“That Dad was mad at him.”
Daniel nodded.
“That’s true.”
“What else?”
“That you guys didn’t want him around.”
Rachel looked toward Daniel.
That was not entirely true.
They wanted boundaries.
Henry interpreted boundaries as rejection.
Noah continued.
“He said he missed me.”
“And that this could be our secret thing.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
There was the part that hurt most.
Our secret thing.
Henry had asked a nine-year-old child to carry a secret from his parents.
“Did Grandpa tell you not to tell us?” Rachel asked.
Noah nodded.
“He said you might take it away.”
“Did he say you’d be in trouble if you told us?”
“No.”
“Did he ever tell you to lie?”
Noah thought.
“He said if you asked why the little door was open, just say I was getting a game.”
Rachel’s face tightened.
Daniel stood and walked toward the hallway.
He needed several seconds before speaking again.
When he returned, his voice was calmer.
“Noah, you are not responsible for Grandpa’s choice.”
The boy looked at him.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
Daniel answered immediately.
“I wish you had told us.”
“But Grandpa is the adult.”
“He should never have asked you to hide something like this from us.”
Noah wiped his face.
Then Daniel asked:
“What do you and Grandpa talk about?”
Noah shrugged.
“Stuff.”
“School.”
“Baseball.”
“His dog.”
Rachel softened slightly.
“Anything about us?”
Noah hesitated.
Daniel noticed.
“You can tell us.”
“Sometimes Grandpa asks if you’re still mad.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Anything else?”
Noah looked toward the floor.
“Sometimes he asks when you guys aren’t home.”
Rachel’s face went pale again.
“Why would he ask that?”
Noah did not know.
And suddenly the explanation that the radio was only for harmless conversations did not feel complete.
