Page 14 of Night So Silent
And now, instead of coming home rejuvenated after a visit with my favorite person in the world and her adorable baby, I’m reading a threatening email from my weasel of a boss about our impossible, out-of-control caseload, who’s not even a therapist himself. Just a middle manager with an ax to grind! I’m the best therapist in that office, with the highest client retention, so next time he can think twice before putting a period by my name.
Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree! Fuck my idiot boss straight down to hell.
Shit, I’m never going to keep this New Year’s resolution.
“Attention passengers,”a voice crackles over the loudspeaker.“Due to severe weather, all flights out of Montrose will be delayed until further notice. Please see a ticket agent for further information.”
“Are you kidding me?” I moan, slumping down in my cracked leather seat.
There’s not even a bar in this airport. It’s too small for me to even get a drink to take the edge off my failed trip home. If this weather doesn’t improve, it looks like I won’t be scheduling an appointment with Derek, after all.Boo hoo…
But maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I’ve been so burnt out at work that maybe tomorrow isn’t the best time to return anyway. But now what am I going to do? Where is my luggage? Is it sitting on the plane? When I look out the window, I can barely see the runway through the swirling snow.
Feeling defeated, I head back toward security. But just as I arrive at the ticket counter, my phone starts ringing. It’s my brother, Clay, so I answer with a haggard greeting.
“Yeah, no problem,” he replies after I update him and then ask if he can keep checking my mail until I return. Just another reason I’m glad he and his best friend, Declan, decided to move back to town. “Hey, is someone else house-sitting for you?”
“No, why? Did the postwoman put my mail in the wrong box again?”
“No…” Then he pauses. “But I think someone’s been in your house.”
My stomach drops.
“What?” I exclaim. “Is anything missing?”
“No.” Clay’s tone only amplifies my concern. “I mean, I don't think so. Everything looks normal, but as soon as I walked in, it smelled different. Like someone with different cologne's been walking around. And then I got this really weird feeling, so I searched the whole house, but there was no one there.”
“Okayyy…” I don’t even know what to say.
Clay has stayed at my house countless times, so if he thinks something’s off, then I believe him. Our dad’s been getting on me about having a security system installed, but I’ve been procrastinating because I live in a really safe neighborhood. At least, I thought I did. Maybe I don’t want to go home yet, after all.
“Look, why don’t I stay at your house for a couple days to make sure no one’s hanging around?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll bring Dec. We’ll have a party so it’ll look like someone’s home.”
“Like Kevin McAllister-style?” I snicker. “That’ssoconsiderate of you.”
“Bailey, too. I think he’s back from Tennessee now. That ice storm took out the power for half the state.”
My tone turns sour. “I swear, Clay, if I get back and any of my belts are missing again…”
“Oh, come on. How do you know—” Clay laughs, but I cut him off.
“I know it was him! And now one of his special ladies is probably walking around withmyGucci belt he lifted for one of his BDSM date nights.”
“I bought you another one, didn’t I?” he retorts.
“That’s not the point!”
For some reason, they still don’t think I can hear them while they talk about their sordid romantic escapades while sitting inmyliving room, eatingmysnacks, in front ofmyTV.
“Fine!” Clay sighs. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t go anywhere near your room.”
“And no girls.”
“What?” he squeaks with outrage.
