“Cassie, honey, I’m sorry, please just open up so I can explain.”

He leaned his forehead against the door and sighed. He couldn’t hear any movement inside, there was no indication that she had heard him at all.

“Cassie, please open up,” he yelled again, knocking insistently on the door. “I really need to talk to you.”

The door behind him opened and he turned to stare at the older woman who stood in the doorway.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you,” he ...