Page 65 of Engulfing Emma

I look up, surprised to see who it is. Brett’s ex-wife. And she’s carrying a stuffed animal and a big bag of M&M’s.

“Oh, it’syou,” she says. “I hoped I’d seen the last of you and your pathetic display last night.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, inching toward the register as I brush flour off my shirt and jeans.

“Let me get you another bag,” the proprietor says and takes the busted one, leaving Amanda and me together at the checkout counter.

I look at what she’s holding. “You’re going to see Leo, I presume?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“M&M’s are a choking hazard for two-year-olds,” I say.

“Who are you, Mary Poppins?”

“Here you go, ma’am,” the man says, putting a new bag of flour on the counter before he rings up my purchase.

“Thank you.” I pick up the bag. “Enjoy your visit, Amanda.”

“Oh, I plan to.”

As the guy behind the counter rings her up, I notice what I didn’t before. That she’s wearing a short skirt and a tight blouse. Not exactly clothing for playing with a toddler. I wonder if she’s got an ulterior motive. She was clearly jealous last night. Brett and I did put on an impressive display. But she left him. I get it, though. She might not want him, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have him either.

I take in her sleek blonde hair, long legs, and impressive cleavage.Yes,I get it all too well.

I hurry down the street, hoping to avoid any more confrontations with the ex-Mrs. Cash.

“Where do you thinkyou’regoing?” she says behind me, the clacking of her high-heeled shoes echoing off the sidewalk.

“Home,” I say without stopping.

“Youlivewith Brett?” she asks. “Are you kidding me?”

I stop and turn around. “You’re a pretty poor excuse for a mother if you don’t even know who’s living in the same house as your son.”

“How dare you,” she says. “You don’t know anything about me.”

She’s right. I don’t know anything about her. Or Brett either.

I wait at the corner. She eyes me suspiciously until the light changes and I make my way to the other side of the street. At my place, I glance back to see her still watching me. I give her a curt wave before ducking inside.

I’d love to know what she’s thinking at this very moment. Is she relieved that Brett isn’t living with another woman, or pissed that I live right across the street?

I drop my bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and then go into Evelyn’s room, hiding behind her curtain as I peek out. I watch Amanda climb the steps of Brett’s townhouse.Herold townhouse. She tries the knob but the door is locked. She pulls out a set of keys and tries to open it. I laugh out loud when I see her stomp her high heel on the ground like a kid throwing a tantrum. Her key doesn’t work. Score one for Brett for changing the locks.

“What are you doing?” my mother asks. “And what’s so funny?”

I turn around in surprise. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”

“I’m running a little late this morning. What’s so interesting outside?”

“Nothing,” I say, dropping the curtain. “I thought I saw someone I knew.”

She looks at me like she knows I’m full of shit. “Oh, yes,” she says. “I can see how that would be funny.” She slings her purse over her shoulder. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Bye, Mom,” I say, heading back to the kitchen.

As soon as she’s out the door, I race up to my room to stare out the window again. Amanda is already inside. I gaze in each of his windows. I know one of the upstairs windows is Leo’s. I surmise the other is Leo’s nanny’s room, as I’ve never seen Brett look out of that one. And the large window to the right of the front door must be the living room. I can’t see inside it very well, but I’ve seen flashes of light from a TV over the past few days.

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