She Chose Him Over My Dying Mother

Twenty below.

My mother came back from the grocery store, and with no code to get through the door, she stood outside alone all night.

I was away on a business trip, half sick with worry and anger, and I called my wife.

"We agreed you'd add my mother to the door code, didn't we?"

Her voice came thick with sleep and irritation.

"Oh, Malcolm's back. We grew up together, I can't have him locked out."

"The lock holds five faces, doesn't it? One more slot for my mother wouldn't get in anyone's way."

"It's already full. You and me, Malcolm and his two dogs. That's exactly five."