Page 93 of Mistaken Intention

I realize, as I’m placing the call, that I don’t know exactly where I am. Hunter didn’t give me the address. But I’m able to describe the house and its location to the man on the phone.

“Oh… you mean Theodore Bennett’s place.”

“TheodoreBennett?”

“Yeah. He’s dead now, of course. His kids live there, but that’s the place right enough.”

He tells me he can get a cab to me within fifteen minutes, and I lean back against the wall by the gate and wait.

I can’t see Drew’s house from here. It’s too far away, and still too dark, although I can see the beginnings of the dawn on the horizon. Even if I could see the house, it wouldn’t change anything. I have to leave, and deep down, I think I always knew it would come to this. I’ve always known, if my lies didn’t ruin everything, my secrets would.

I’ve only been away for a few days, but my apartment feels different. Or maybe that’s me.

Maybe it’s that I know I’ll never be the same again.

How can I be, after everything I’ve done… everything I’ve been… everything I’ve lost?

The cab driver realized after five minutes of attempted conversation that I wasn’t in the mood to talk, and let me sit in silence for the journey back to Boston. I cried for some of the time, but he didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t say anything, and once I’d paid him, he drove away, presumably keen to get home again.

I can’t say I blame him.

I’m not great company.

I dump my bag in the living room and flop onto the couch, pulling my phone from my purse. It’s gone six, the sun is up, and although I’d rather put this off a little longer, I know I have to make the call.

“Josie?” Hunter sounds sleepy, but that’s not surprising, really. “Has something happened?”

“Yes, in a way.”

He yawns. “Do you need me to come over?”

“No. I’m not at the cottage.”

“Where are you?” he says, suddenly sounding more awake.

“I’m in Boston.”

“What the fu…” He stops talking. “Sorry. I mean, what’s going on? How did you get to Boston, for Christ’s sake?”

“I called a cab.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“Yeah.”

“But how did they get in through the gates?”

“They didn’t. I waited outside.”

“You did what?”

“I waited outside. Sorry, Hunter. I couldn’t stay anymore.”

“Why not? Did Drew do something?”

“No. At least, nothing I didn’t want him to do.”

There’s a moment’s silence and then he says, “Oh. I see.”

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