chapter 13
256 Words
Day four.
Ryan left at seven. One car.
I cleaned the bathroom. Bleached the tub. Scrubbed the grout.
At eleven, the doorbell rang.
I froze. Rag in my hand.
Nobody rang the doorbell. Ever.
I walked to the door. Didn’t open it.
Looked through the peephole.
Woman. Blonde. Red dress. Red lips.
She smiled at the door like she knew I was there.
Knocked again. Three taps.
"Delivery," she called. Voice sweet. Too sweet.
I stayed quiet.
She waited. Then slid an envelope under the door.
White. Thick. No name on it.
"Make sure he gets it," she said to the door.
Footsteps. Clicking away.
I waited five minutes.
Opened the door.
Empty porch. No car.
Picked up the envelope.
Heavy paper. Sealed with red wax. No initials. Just a shape pressed in. A rose.
I put it on the island. Didn’t open it.
Kept cleaning.
Ryan came home at seven.
Saw the envelope before he saw me.
He stopped.
"Who was here."
"Woman. Blonde. Red dress. Said delivery."
He picked up the envelope. Turned it over. Thumb on the wax rose.
His jaw locked.
He slid the envelope into his jacket. Didn’t open it.
"Sit," he said.
I sat.
"She say anything else?"
"Make sure he gets it."
He studied me. Long.
"Anyone else come by?"
"No."
He nodded once.
"Good."
He went to the office. Shut the door.
I made dinner.
We ate in silence.
At nine, the locks clicked.
I checked them twice.
Ryan’s office light stayed on all night.
So did mine.
- Writer
