Page 64 of His Loving Wife

“He can’t hurt us,” Kate repeated, for her own good rather than Detective Barnes’. She wasn’t trying to prove she was listening, rather trying to make the words sink in.

“Kate?”

Andrew’s voice startled her, and she jumped.

“What?”

“Are you okay?”

She’d been in bed the rest of the afternoon, ever since Detective Barnes told them there was nothing that could be done. Barnes believed they needed to sit back and wait for Paul to mess up, but Kate didn’t like waiting around for the next threat. She felt helpless.

“Where did you put the letters?”

Andrew looked down, defeated. Perhaps he thought they’d be able to bypass this topic entirely. He was wrong.

“I don’t know why you need to see them again.”

“I just do.”

He nodded. He balanced on the balls of his feet as he moved around some items on the top shelf of their closet. Then, he came over to the bed. He threw down a folder.

“They’re in there.” He exhaled. “I’m going to finish putting away the dishes.”

He quickly exited the room, and Kate was grateful. She wasn’t sure why she wanted to be alone when she read the letters, but she did.

Letterwasn’t really the appropriate word, she realized. Letters were intimate, long-winded. What Paul had sent was, at best, a series of messages. At worst, a series of threats.

She looked at the first one she’d received.

Hi Kate. How’s Willow?

Then the second one:

No response?

There were three more after that.

I’m watching you.

You can’t ignore me.

And the most chilling:

I miss her. Does she still have my eyes?

That last one made her buckle. She could handle everything Paul was aiming at her, but targeting her daughter—her and Andrew’s daughter, not his—was too much. She needed to be strong for Willow, for her entire family, she knew that, but in the solitude of the room, she wept. Maybe that’s why secretly she’d wanted to be alone when she read the letters. She’d brought this upon her family, and she needed space for the guilt to consume her.

By the time Andrew returned from downstairs, Kate was rolled over on one side, her eyes closed. She waited until she felt him get in bed beside her before opening them again.

And she couldn’t close them for many hours after that.

Chapter 32

Now

Andrew told me the name of the fish market he’d visited earlier in the week. The place smells exactly as you’d imagine, although you can tell from the windows and floors the owners try to make the rest of the space comfortable. They’re backed up today, so it will be an hour before the meat is ready for pickup. Thankfully, the market is in a quaint part of the newly revitalized downtown area. There are several stores and restaurants within walking distance.

I stop at a few clothing stores, debating whether to buy Willow a sundress, but figure whatever I choose won’t be her style. As I exit each store, I scan the sidewalks for Paul, wondering if he’s after us, or if it’s all in my mind. I eventually find a café and decide to wait there. I order a cranberry and chicken salad croissant and tea. Because of the warm weather, the patio area is packed with people, so I choose a booth inside. The air conditioner gusts against my back while a television blares national news in front of me.

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