Unforeseen

Fast Forward:

I needed some fresh air. I needed to get out. Cooping myself up in a house for this long wasgood for no one's state of mind or well-being. Every spot had a memory, and it was high time I started enjoying them instead of running from them. So, while taking a familiar walk up the street from my house I decided to stop at the market and get some groceries. I was tossing around the idea of making a nice stew for dinner as well as I had a craving to have some fresh fruit in the house. Upon entering the market, I grabbed a large brown shopping bag to hold my groceries.

Seeing the things Danny used to buy or used to make me buy to put in our stew brought a small smile to my face. I even decided to purchase some of those items not because I liked them but because I wanted to have them around. I had been so consumed by what I wanted to put in the stew that I forgot to get my fruit. It wasn't until I was leaving that I noticed boxes of them on display for sale outside along the front of the market. Apples, that's what I really wanted, if I didn't stop and pick up anything else, I wanted green apples. I hovered over the box that held them, sorting through to find the best-looking ones. If not for the firm grip, I had around my grocery bag, I might have dropped the whole thing upon hearing a voice, startling me from behind.

"You're looking well, can I help you carry those groceries by chance?" the man asked.

Looking over my shoulder I found Nicholas standing there, observant and calm as usual. 

"No, I don't need any help from you, and I would appreciate it if you stayed away from me!" I 32was overcome with such a rage I briskly walked off without my apples.

Reaching the front door, I turned to see if he had followed me home, which he did not, and with thatrelief fell over my body. Locking and bolting the door behind me, I walked to the kitchen to beginpreparing my stew. It would be hours until it would be done, I had forgotten just how long it took. I began to pace the floor, irritated that I had gotten interrupted while trying to get my fruit. I would be snacking on an apple right now if it wasn't for the likes of him! Growing angrier I took a seat in the living room to calm my nerves.

Night had fallen, it was dark and quiet in the house as I didn't feel a need to turn many lights on. The darkness helped to cool me down. Taking some deep breaths, I shut my eyes trying to find some peace, instead I found myself beginning to drift off into a light sleep.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but I heard a knock come at the front door, waking me from my nap. I paused for a moment after getting up as I felt groggy and needed to gain some balance. Unlocking the door, I found Nicholas standing there patiently, holding a small brown paper bag.

"What are you doing here?" I said with an irritated huff through the screen door. "What don't you understand about the words, I don't want to see you!" My voice cracked on every word. I barely recognized the sound of it. Seeing him in person and even closer gave me an awful taste in my mouth.

"Well, I can't exactly answer the first question unless you give me time in between asking your next one," Nicholas said with a laugh. 

I couldn't help narrowing my eyes at him in response. "I'm not amused, get off my property immediately."

"Or what?" The innocence and playfulness in his way of asking the question were almost sickening.

"Or I'll shoot you where you stand, and don't think I won't!"

"You would kill a man on your front porch bringing you apples? Now I don't think that would go over well with the police," he said, holding up the bag.

"Would I kill the man standing on my front porch offering me apples you ask? The same man that got my husband killed in cold blood. An innocent man with his whole life ahead of him. Yes,I would in a heartbeat!" I was sure my tone was as harsh as I could make it while I spit at him through the screen door.

Waving his finger with a nasty smile spread across his face he said, "Now that's not very lady-like. What would your father think of you now or your mother for that matter? They raised you with better manners than that."

"Get off my property, this is your finalwarning!" I said, reaching for Danny's handgunthat he kept inside the little table next to the door. 

Having a sense of what I was doing while watching my arm he seemed to be calculating his next move and choosing his words wisely. "Okay, I can see this is going nowhere tonight. I think we started off on the wrong foot. I came by to apologize and try to explain myself but obviously,that's just not going to happen at the present moment. Anyway, I didn't bring the apples to bribe you or any other crap that might be running through your head." His tone growing nastier as he rubbed his one temple for a few short seconds. "I really did just get them because I could see you wanted thefruit before you were clearly chased off by me. I wanted you to have the apples and that's all!" 

Once he had finished snapping at me, I watched as he spun on one heel and stormed off.