Since 1998

Chapter 9

"Today is the day," Allison said, holding the folded letter. "He's going to regret how he treated me."

"It's not even his fault," Anna replied. "Does he know?"

"Whatever... Here's the plan. You drop this letter in his mailbox, and I'll wait for him at the place where we first met," Allison said, tucking her hand behind her.

Anna nodded.

But before she could say anything, Lauren knocked, then pushed the door open without waiting. She always did that.

"Ali."

"Mom!" Allison quickly hid the letter.

"Tomorrow, we're hosting the Hollingsworths for dinner." She reached out, touching Allison's hair with the care of someone arranging a doll. "You're going to meet Daniel; he's about your age."

Allison didn't even hear the name. The air conditioner was working overtime, but she was still sweating. Her skin felt clammy.

Allison's heart raced. "Mom, no—I mean, yes, I'll come out of respect, but... I'm too young for this."

"I'm sorry, Ali, this is what your father wants. But it's just a family dinner. If you don't like him, then don't."

She left without waiting for a response.

Anna shut the door slowly, her eyes wide. "What the f**k. That's an arranged marriage setup."

"I know. I have to see him today—before tomorrow. I'm not going to be Dad's business... uhm, whatever. What did Mom say? Holly?"

"I don't know, I was preoccupied... but it sounds like holy cow," Anna laughs. "Then let's go," Anna said, grabbing her bag.

She dropped Allison off near the beach access and watched her friend walk away, the ocean breeze catching her hair. Anna wasn't entirely sure where the specific place was.

​Minutes later, Anna pulled into the quiet driveway of the Austin estate. She quickly hopped out, slipped the crisp envelope into the mailbox, and drove off completely unaware of the eyes watching her.

​Further down the street, Cathy sat idling in her parked car. Her heart skipped a dangerous beat as she watched the unfamiliar girl deliver the envelope.

She instantly thought of Devin's "ghost"—the mysterious pen pal he'd loved for years without ever laying eyes on her. Cathy waited until Anna's car disappeared around the corner before stepping out onto the pavement.

​Cathy didn't hesitate. She reached into the mailbox, snatched the envelope out of the box, and shoved it into the bottom of her bag. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking; she knew she'd just crossed a line she couldn't uncross.

​Inside the Austin estate, Devin was fresh out of the shower, drying his hair when the doorbell rang. He pulled a T-shirt over his head and ran toward the front gate, a faint, desperate hope flickering in his chest. Maybe she finally wrote back.

​But as he opened the gate, his expression fell.

​"Cathy," he said, his voice dropping to a flat deadpan. "What are you doing here?"

​"I was just passing by," Cathy said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "I wanted to see if you were busy. I actually need someone to escort me to the grocery store."

​"No," Devin said bluntly, already turning back toward the house.

​"Devin, wait!" Cathy hurried after him. "Look... I know I've been awful to you. I teased you relentlessly about Sam... but isn't it a little unfair? I'm Sam's sister. Can't we try to be friends?"

​Devin stopped. He was mentally drained from the chaos at the beach, and Cathy's sudden vulnerability caught him off guard. He let out a long sigh. "Fine. Just this once."

​Cathy's heart surged with dark triumph. She had the letter. She had him right where she wanted him.

​As Allison walked toward their meeting place, the clouds just gave up and dumped everything. Allison ran until her lungs burned, her bare feet slipping on the cold, wet sand. When she saw the glass house, she didn't care who owned it. She scrambled onto the porch, shivering so hard her teeth rattled.

Allison mumbled, "I'm not that same kid anymore who is scared of you."

It was like she was back in that incident six years ago.

​Miles away, the same lightning flickered against the humming lights of the City-Mart.

Inside the store, Anna reached for a bottle of wine when her world came to a halt. Across the aisle stood Devin. And beside him was Cathy. Who's that b***h?

​Cathy's fingers grazed his sleeve, but Devin flinched, pulling his arm away.

Anna's pulse quickened.

​"Devin!"

​"Devin, we should go," Cathy urged, catching a glimpse of Anna walking towards them. "I think what I'm looking for is not here."

​But Devin stayed rooted. "Wait. I think someone is calling my name."

​"I am," Anna said, her voice making Cathy wish she could vanish right away with Devin.

"I'm Anna, Allison's best friend. A few hours ago, I left her letter in your mailbox. She's out there right now—at the place only you two know—waiting for you!" She said directly, with no more explaining about yesterday.

The store's air appeared to evaporate. Devin didn't hesitate. After hearing Allison's name, he left right away.

​Inside her car, Anna slammed her hand against the horn as she hit a wall of traffic. "No! No, no, no!" She reached for Allison's phone in the passenger seat. Allison had left it behind, preferring the old-fashioned "pen pal" life, but now that choice felt foolish.

​"Stop honking your f*****g horn, kid!" a woman in the next lane screamed. "We all want to go home! Perhaps you'd rather spend the night in an orange shirt!"

​"Kid? I'm eighteen! Shut the f**k up, old lady!" Anna yelled back, rain drenching her hair.

​Back at his house, Devin checked the mailbox. Empty. His heart sank. He ran inside and dialed Sam.

​"Sam... the girl from yesterday. You asked for her number. I need it. Now!"

​"Wait, what? Why? Are you hitting on her?"

​"Sam, it's an emergency! Just text it!"

​Sam sent the number, baffled. Does he know already?

Meanwhile, the phone in Anna's lap vibrated. An unknown number. She swiped it instantly. "Hello? Ali? Oh my god, Ali, where are you—"

​"Anna, it's Devin." The voice was breathless, competing with the roar of his engine. "Anna, the letter... It's not here."