Page 8 of Polly

Chapter 3

Polly

“Tuesday’s show is cancelled. The venue had a water line burst and it flooded their vendor area. The damage won’t be repaired before the show, and they can’t have patrons around the damage,” their tour manager Greg announced to the band, who sat in the front lounge of the bus. “Today’s Sunday. You’ve got a show on Saturday. If you promise me you’ll show up by 11 am Saturday morning at the venue in Richmond, you can have an unscheduled vacation until then.”

Cheers went up around the room and no one asked any questions. Everyone scrambled to their bunks to pack their bags.

Perfect, Polly thought. She could surprise Grady. The opportunity to enjoy some time together for a few days happened so rarely, she was sure he’d be thrilled to see her.

Polly packed her duffel bag and set it on her bed, then pulled out her cell phone. She brought up the browser and navigated to the airport to buy a plane ticket. She could get a ticket today to an airport about an hour from home. If she got a rental car and drove, she could be in her hometown by nightfall.

Quickly, Polly booked her airline ticket and reserved a rental car. She and their keyboardist, Maggie, caught a car to the airport together. Maggie had pulled her long black hair into a ponytail and donned a hat. Polly tied her blond hair up in a scarf and removed all her makeup. With any luck, no one would look twice at them.

“I can’t wait to see Grady. I haven’t seen him since the last break and that seems like forever ago,” Polly said.

“That’s great. I hope you two have a blast. My friend’s having an art show in Brooklyn. I’m so excited I get to go.”

Polly grinned. “That’s awesome. I can’t believe the schedule worked out so well.”

Maggie laughed. “I told my friend it must be fate.”

The car pulled up to the curb at the drop-off for the airport. They unloaded their bags and headed inside.

“Have a safe trip,” she told Maggie and hugged her.

“Take care, I’ll see you soon,” Maggie said.

They separated and went to the waiting areas for their respective planes. Luckily for Polly, no one recognized her.

* * *

Polly pulled the silver rental car into the driveway in front of their house — the one Grady had carried her into two years ago, proposed to her in the bedroom, and told her was theirs. No other cars were in the driveway. Night had fallen, so it was obvious no lights were on in the two story brick house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Huh. Weird. Maybe Grady had to work late.

Polly parked and pulled out her phone to text him.

Polly: Where are you?

His reply arrived quickly.

Grady: Bed

Polly pocketed her phone, climbed out of the car, and went to the front door.

She tried her key in the door, but it didn’t work. How odd.

She put her keys away and knocked loudly.

Silence.

She knocked again.

The wind whipped past and rustled her hair. Probably blowing in a storm. Down the road, she heard a dog bark. Still, silence from the house. She tried to peer into the window by the door, but it was too dark for her to see anything.

She pulled out her phone and texted Grady again.

Polly: At home?

Grady: No, I’m on a work trip. Will be home tomorrow

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