Page 20 of You Were Invited
That stung.
For someone who was feeling so neglected lately, Chris sure hadn’t sent much attention her way, either. Almost more than not, he’d come home late from work, giving them just enough time to make the essential chitchat, before falling asleep.
When he’s not forcing us to stay out partying all night...
Annie picked at a hangnail. She realized then that she’d all but given up on begging him to stay in with her and find a movie to watch, or to at least let her stay back so that he could enjoy his friends alone. An argument from months prior emerged from her memory hole.
“That’s depressing. We’re not staying home.”
“But I just want—”
“You act like an old woman sometimes, Annie.”
Annie’s face flushed hot.
“That’s right. Get mad, poppet. Get furious,” Serene Hallowbrew whispered. “He acts like a teenager. Someone could take a switch to his behind, take the boy down a peg. He’s no man.”
Realizing that ruminating wasn’t spinning her any favors, even in the lonely company of Serene, Annie got up from the couch. She’d intended to query a new client, amongst other writing, but she had been too braindead to work all day. Although it wasn't very productive, she had showered and gone for a short walk. Outside, the sunlight turned golden, then a pale twilight blue-gray. It was almost six o’clock now.
About time to cook something,she thought.Maybe food will calm my mind.
She rebuilt a small fire in the fireplace to warm up the cabin while she meal prepped. When she’d cooked her supper, Annie looked down at her plate of fried potatoes, eggs, and toast, and was eager to dig in. Famished, she went back for seconds, plating up all the extra food she’d originally designated as her future breakfast.
Sitting at the dining table, she finished her orange juice. A drop of it splashed her glasses. With a groan, she pulled them off her face, and rubbed them beneath the hem of her shirt.
If only all my problems were this easy to—
A knock at the door shattered the silence.
Knock knock.
She jumped an inch out of her chair, then sat in disbelief. Her heart pounded as she strained to hear any other noise.
Knock knock.
She stood, senses on alert.
Should she answer? Ignore it?
Would they just return in the middle of the night?
The sudden snap of a log from the fireplace jolted her out of her paralyzing fear. She clutched her neck. Glancing over, she noticed the black, heavy iron fire poker hanging from the tool stand.
She peeked out the front windows, but couldn’t see the front door clearly. Feeling stupidly brave, Annie grabbed the poker and opened the S.O.S. function on her phone. She made her way to the door.
Annie gulped several times, her mouth gone dry. Slowly she unlocked the door, opening it a few inches. Every muscle was tense. She felt exposed. Only the porch light illuminated the night beyond the wooden deck. Her back stiffened rod straight as her eyes scanned the parking area where her car sat amongst the various weeds and flowers making their home in the gravel drive. No one was there. Panic seized her. She wondered if they were still lurking in the shadows. It was difficult to see into the darkness beyond the incandescent glow.
Annie opened the door wider with trembling hands. She poked her head out, hoping that she wouldn’t be a nail under the blow of a hammer. “He-llo?” Embarrassed, she swallowed the pitiful crack of her voice. “Hello?” She clutched the fire poker, holding it just out of view inside the doorway, lightly swinging it. Every fiber of her being urged her to slam the door. Lock it tight. Curiosity and fear egged her on. With narrowed eyes, she scanned the darkness again.
Then, she heard it.
Footsteps crunching on the gravel, breaking the peace of the twilight.
She fumbled her phone, dropping it.
eight
Julian turned when he heard a voice. He walked back around the parked car, calling out, “Hi, there!”
