UNINVITED

Chapter 7

Bright lights shimmered on my face. Two flickers of my lids and my eyes were wide open. Squinting, I turned away from the side window and glanced at the clock. 5:00 AM. Time for jogging. I yawned and sat up, pulling the spread off my body.

     I glanced at my phone screen. It was pitch-black. Stretching a hand, I went for it from the nightstand and pressed the power button. Nothing. Another try. Total blackness. I pulled my hair backward and smacked my head, remembering I had turned it off the previous night. If Tom was going to find me, my phone would be the blazing arrow. I had no idea if he could still trace me here with my phone off. But he was capable of the impossible when he was desperate.

     I’d need a burner. For now, I’d take my chances. I jabbed the power button. It took a while for it to boot. Soon, I stared at the photo of Tom and me skiing the Alps. I would need to change the background. Constant remembrance of our nostalgic moments would conceal the bad side of him. The side I had turned a blind eye to. But not this time.

     I had missed James’ call and had a message from Grace. I scrolled down to her text.

     Hey. Great to hear you made it. Tough day. I hope this time you make the right decision. I’m glad you saw him for who he is—a jerk. Oh, and before I forget, the elk isn’t real. It won’t hurt you. Love.

     I smiled reading the last two sentences. Grace had such a nasty sense of humor. I texted her back.

      I will this time. I hope he doesn’t go mad. And sure. Thanks for the tip. Love.

     I tapped send, then went through my call logs and rang James. I listened to the low monotone beep, fiddling with my nails. When someone picked, it wasn’t James. My face dropped. I had hoped to hear his voice.

     A woman with a terrible cold snapped, “Who’s this?”

     I hesitated. Something told me the woman on the line was James’ wife as I feared. And the tone of her voice indicated she wasn’t in the mood.

     “Hi,” I said breezily, realizing how awkward I sounded listening to my voice. “I’m Elodie—”

     “You bitch!” she yelled, cutting me off. “Stay away from my husband!” Then she hung up on me.

     I took the phone off my ear and stared blankly at the screen. What just happened? I didn’t know which one shocked me—learning James was married, or his belligerent wife calling me a bitch.

     I coiled strands of my hair around my finger and twisted it. I thought James and I could catch up, but it didn’t look possible. If James was having marital problems, I certainly didn’t want to add insult to injury. I’d stick to the usual plan. Contemplating my marriage.

     I dropped my phone on the pillow and slid out of the bed, tying straps around my waist. I stepped into the bathroom, splashed water on my face, brushed my teeth, and used the toilet. Then I took a cold shower. The word bitch echoed in my head as the water cascaded down my body and splattered on the floor. I couldn’t shake it off. What a great way to start my morning, I scoffed.

     A short while later, I stood behind an oval mirror on the vanity, fixing my headband. I bent down and laced my sneakers. Clara hadn’t woken yet, and I made sure she stayed like that as I went downstairs and fetched a long glass of milk in the kitchen.

     I carried it with me to the sink, sipping while opening the blinds. There wasn’t any sign of the Bergers, but their Mazda 6 was in front of the house. As I stood hoping to catch sight of them, I couldn’t resist the thought I was infatuated with the Bergers. I didn’t know why I was suddenly keeping track of them when I came here to think about myself.