Page 91 of A Me and Him Thing
Why is Allison calm in the late afternoon? Why is she so agitated at night? Is it because Jack has put something in her dinner? Something that affects her adversely?
If that’s the case, he knows how it’s affecting her. He knows, and he’s continuing to do it anyway.
What is he giving her? Is it helping…or is it hurting her?
The Jack I know would never hurt Allison. But why does Allison grab my arm when he arrives? Is she scared of Jack?
No, that doesn’t add up. Jack is a family man, loving and kind. He raised Ren, and he’s perfection.
My imagination is running away with me. I’ve watched far too many true-crime shows on Netflix.
I’m being silly. Jack is giving Allison “the good stuff.” Something that helps calm her down.
Of course he is. Otherwise, her sundowning would be much worse.
Chapter Twenty-five
I’M STILL PACING, thoughts spiraling, when a knock on the door startles me. I practically jump out of my skin. It’s not a light tap. It’s four hard raps.
I quietly tiptoe to my door, sneaking a peek through the peephole.
It’s Jack. He looks…maybe not angry, but very upset.
Fear slaps me in the face, hard. Why is he here? What does he want? I turn my back to the door, covering my mouth with my hand, not daring to make a noise. I refuse to open the door to him. My love of true-crime shows catches up with me, and my thoughts go wild.
What if I know too much? What if he can’t let me live?
No, no, no. That can’t be right. Jack would never hurt me. My imagination is wandering to crazy places. He read to me while I was recovering in his home. He’s a wonderful man. He loves me. I look forward to him being my father-in-law one day soon. That is, if my relationship with Ren progresses to that point.
The phone in my pocket rings loud and clear, startling me. I grab it, fumbling with my good hand as it drops to the floor with a loud clatter. I sink to the floor, clicking my phone to silent with shaking hands. I stare at the nameJACKon my callerID.
It’s too late. Jack heard my phone ring. He knows I’m hiding behind my front door.
“Bree, I know you’re there. I just want to talk with you. That’s all. Just want to explain. Please let me in. There’s so much you don’t know, so much you don’t understand.”
There’s no way I’m opening the door to Jack. No freaking way. I start to click on Ren’s phone number, then I hesitate, my finger just above the call button.
What am I going to say? “Hi, Ren. I need help. Your father is at my door. I caught him in the act of sneaking medication into Allison’s dinner. I think he might be here to silence me.”
Ren would think I’ve gone stark raving mad. It would devastate him to know I could think such a thing of his father.
Jack knocks on the door several more times, the door rattling beneath my back. “Another time,” he finally says. “I would never hurt you, Bree. I’m sorry I scared you.”
I unbutton my blouse and slip it off my shoulder to take a look at my upper arm. An angry bruise is already forming where Jack grabbed me.
“But you did hurt me, Jack,” I say to the empty room.
I sit with my back to the door for the next hour, shivering. And it’s not from the cold.
What just happened?
JACK DOESN’T RETURN. It doesn’t stop me from jumping every time I hear the slightest sound. I’ve lived alone since I was twenty. I’m not one who’s easily spooked.
It’s Thursday. Ren’s staying late for taste testing at Exodus. I debate over and over whether I should tell Ren what I saw today or not. Should I get involved? I have no idea if Jack is helping or hurting Allison.
What if I make a huge deal over this only to find out that Jack is actually helping Allison?
I’ll look like a suspicious idiot. Maybe Ren will hate me. Surely my possible future father-in-law will too. I’ll lose everything. Again.
