Page 9 of Polly

Polly: Okay, sweet dreams

Grady: Sweet dreams

She walked back to the car and climbed in. Grady hadn’t said anything about a work trip but maybe he’d forgotten to tell her.

She buckled her seatbelt, turned on the car, and backed out of her parking spot.

Polly drove the twenty-five minutes across town to her parents’ house.

“Polly!” her mom shouted and enthusiastically hugged her the second after opening the door.

“Surprise!” Polly said. She returned the hug, then followed the tiny, blond woman inside.

She decided she would spend tonight with her parents and then surprise Grady tomorrow.

* * *

Polly parked the rental in a space in front of the large accounting firm where Grady worked. It was almost lunchtime so she would take him for a surprise lunch.

Polly: Are you back from your trip?

Grady: Yup. Hard at work.

She smiled and waited. Noon rolled around, and she saw several people stream out of the firm. No Grady, though. Maybe he brought lunch and was staying in.

She climbed out of the car and kept her head down as she walked up the sidewalk to the building. No one recognized her, and she successfully entered the doors without hesitation. A large reception desk sat in the lobby and a brunette receptionist sat behind it.

Polly smiled and approached her.

The receptionist smiled. “Hi, what can I do for you?”

“Hi, I’m looking for Grady McClelland.”

The receptionist frowned. “I’m sorry, but he’s not here.”

“Oh, did he step out for lunch? Maybe I missed him walk by.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I haven’t seen him in probably six months. Mr. McClelland is no longer employed here.”

Polly’s stomach sank, and she felt like she was going to be sick. “Oh, okay. I didn’t know. Thank you.”

“Sure thing. You okay, honey? You look a little green.”

“I’m okay. Thank you.”

Polly walked quickly out the door and to her car. She sat down and panicked, her breaths coming hard.

First, the house key didn’t work and now this? Was Grady hiding something from her?

Her phone chimed right as she pulled out of the parking lot, but she didn’t hear it.

She drove across town to their house and pulled into the driveway outside. In the daylight, she noticed that the grass in the front yard stood a little higher than normal. She also noticed something else she’d failed to see last night: a large realtor “for sale” sign in the middle of the lawn.

What the fuck?

Polly’s heart beat wildly in her chest. What was he hiding? There was no reason for this. She’d offered to pay off this house with her first payment from the record label, but Grady had refused, saying he wanted to work for it and would make the mortgage payments. If he’d simply said something, she would have paid for the house in a heartbeat.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Grady.

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