Page 43 of Little Empty Promises

I was losing her.

“I need to give Boomer a bath,” she said.“So, if we’re done here …”

“Sure, thanks for taking the time to talk to me.”

We were done, finished with the conversation … for today.

But it wouldn’t be long before we spoke again.

17

There wasn’t a clear view from Cordelia’s house into her other neighbor’s home, not from the bedroom, anyway.The living room, however, offered a different angle.From there I was able to see into the bedroom, but the view wasn’t as good as the one from Cordelia’s bedroom into Eddy and Rosalyn’s room.

Still, what if Rosalyn was right?

What if I’d pointed my finger in the wrong direction?

I needed to know for sure.

I didn’t know much about the neighbors in the white house.My mother had once mentioned that the wife was an energetic, spirited woman, while the husband was plainer than a stale piece of bread—her words, not mine.The wife was outgoing, active in the community.The husband kept to himself, preferring to stay indoors, curled up with a good book or in front of the television.

I locked Cordelia’s front door, and I walked next door, pausing when a strange sensation came over me, a sensation of being watched.I turned, canvassing the neighborhood.I saw nothing and no one, but the feeling didn’t pass.

I knocked on the door, and a short, petite woman answered, offering me a wide smile.She looked to be in her thirties and was dressed in pink from head to toe, including the glittery headband atop her head.

She batted her eyelashes a few times and said, “Hi!You’re Georgiana, Darlene’s daughter, aren’t you?”

“I am.How did you know?”

“Your mother and I chat every now and then.She loves talking about her kids.We’ve had lunch a few times, and she’s shown me photos of y’all.She’s a proud mom, to be sure.”

“Have you lived here long?”

“A few years now.It’s a fun neighborhood, lots of cookouts and block parties.”

“Do you attend many of them?”

“I try.Most times, I have to go by myself.It’s one of the reasons why I appreciate your mom.She always makes me feel included, like I’m not alone.”

“Don’t you have anyone to go with you to these neighborhood get-togethers?”

“I’m more of an extrovert, while my husband is more of an introvert.Well … my soon-to-be ex-husband, I should say.”

She huffed a nervous laugh and went quiet.

“Soon to be ex-husband?”I asked.“Are you two getting divorced?”

“Sad to say, but yes.”

“Why?”

She circled her finger around, pointing at me.“Well, aren’t you a curious one?Your mother said as much about you.”

I wondered what else my mother had said.

“I don’t mean to pry into your life,” I said.

“Oh, not at all.I’m an open book, and I’ve had so many conversations with your mother about you, I feel like I know you.”

---