Laura placed a hand on her chest to steady her over-active breathing. She tried urgently to think with logic, it could be kids? They knocked, went unheard, got restless and broke in. Then after seeing candy a few feet into the hall, were brave enough to steal it. Yes, that was most likely it. Even though this was a very likely possibility, a part of her feared this explanation was too simple, too good to be true. But her mother often said 'sometimes the simplest explanation is often the right one'. That it was just cocky, arrogant, greedy kids, and not something more insidious hiding behind the veil of reasons. She was at a crossroads, one part yearning to gallop upstairs and seek refuge in Toby's room. But another part wanting to stay, close to the door, settle, and stop being silly. Then her legs began to move. Laura still hadn't made a firm decision as to whether to flee, or close the door and stop the bitter cold barging in. But her two pins seemed to have made that decision, giving no choice but to continue onwards and shut the wooden piece.
