UNINVITED

Chapter 34

two months later

I fixed the silky shawl around my neck and breathed in the crisp air. I couldn’t deny the fact I had missed the farmhouse, but I reminded myself once more that my weekend getaway was over. I hadn’t gotten used to it yet. Neither had I gotten used to the fact that I was divorced and was now a free woman.

     After Anne sent me the photos, I called Tom and told him about the new evidence I’d be presenting to the court. To prevent a scandal, he agreed to sign the divorce papers. Last I heard, he was seeing a therapist for his violent nature. I was happy that he’d finally decided to see a shrink, as he’d called them.

     I walked across the city sidewalk, my hands tucked into my overcoat pockets, heading toward the coffee shop a short distance away from me. I passed by a group of tourists taking pictures of the landscape. Stopping in my tracks, I neared the homeless man by the restaurant and dropped some coins into his bowl. He murmured a thank you as I began to continue my journey on foot.

     Gentle winds blew toward my direction, flicking my hair that hung loosely on my shoulders. I tucked a handful behind my ears and slid my hands back into the pockets. When I opened the door to the coffee shop, an eager waitress neared me with a big smile.

     “Table for one?” she asked, bringing out a notepad and a pen.

     I shook my head. “No. I’m meeting someone,” I said, smiling.

     “All right.”

     As I scanned the room for a sign of him, a familiar voice called out my name, “Elodie! Over here!”

     I glanced up and walked toward his booth. He wore a bottom-down with black leather jeans, and an overcoat lay on the arm of the sofa. Sliding into the booth, I sat across from him and smiled.

     “It’s nice to see you again, Alec.”

      He sipped from the mug, and then placed it across from him. “It’s nice to see you too.”

     I went for the menu and skimmed through it. “You seem to be enjoying the city,” I said, the smile lingering on my face.

     “Yeah. I love the scenery. It’s beautiful.”

     I decided I would have espresso and beckoned the waitress, then placed my order. Returning to Alec, I said, “Manhattan is always like that.”

     I rested my hands on the tabletop and studied his face. His dark hair was cut down to size, his stubbles gone. He was tan too, and I noticed his biceps had become larger. He looked good. Very good in contrast to months ago.

      “How are you holding up?”

     After he recovered, he told me about Marie. She had been his secretary. It was easy to start a romantic relationship with her. Marie was beautiful. Alec had shown me pictures of her. At some point, he wanted to marry her, but when he brought her to see his Mom, she didn’t like Marie and didn’t approve of their relationship. He listened to his mother like an obedient child and broke up with her. After his Dad abused his Mom several times, he didn’t want anything to put a rift between them. He gave up the love of his life for his Mom’s sake. Funny enough, his Mom approved her relationship with Rachael Woods, Marie’s half-sister.

     “Amy... I mean Rachael, her trial is in a couple of weeks and I’m prepping. I guess I’m not fine emotionally. I still can’t believe what happened.”

     Amy was transferred to the state prison in New Hampshire after her incarceration by the Shelburne police. She was charged with attempted murder among other crimes. In addition to her diary, the police had her confession. I secretly recorded our conversation on my phone at the hospital. She tricked me, and I gave her a taste of her medicine.