Shattering the Fairy Tale

Chapter 4

As she rounded the back of her vehicle to grab her overnight bag, she realized that her friendly police escort had not left as she had hoped. He was just closing his door and walking towards her, situating his hat securely on his head. Laura plastered a smile on her face that hopefully looked genuine. As she reached her hand out to his, she was really hoping he would take the hint that she concluding this awful encounter.

"Thanks for your help, Officer St. John. I know my grandmother will be grateful that I was so well taken care of." He nodded at her with a wide smile.

Laura grabbed her bag from the trunk and walked confidently towards the house. Laura unlocked the door to the cabin, pushing through and breathing in the woodsy yet slightly musty air that greeted her. She turned quickly to close the door. But she quickly jumped back when she saw that he was standing at the threshold watching her. She tried to compose herself as she stared back at him.

"It's okay. I think I've got it from here." She calmly addressed him, although what she really want to do is scream at him. 'Please, just leave, haven't I suffered enough for one day.'

"Nonsense." Anthony's smile disarmed her. "I won't feel okay until I know that you are inside safe and sound. We wouldn't want any unexpected visitors invading your retreat, now would we?"

His smugness was grating on her, she suddenly had to urge to slap him. But her mother and grandmother had raised her better than that. Instead she took a deep steadying breath, "well, I guess not. Please, won't you come in? Check the place out." Laura decided to match his smugness with sarcasm. "I would offer you something to drink, but I am fresh out."

"There's some water and Coke in the fridge. I was just here yesterday. You will want to go grocery shopping tomorrow though; I don't think your grandmother prepared for your arrival. I can write some directions for you if you would like." He casually wandered through the living room towards the game room if her memory served.

"What do you mean, you were here yesterday? You have a key? Gram gave you a key to this place!" Laura's voice rose shrilly as she turned and glared at her unwanted interloper.

"Well, yeah. I told you. Marie asked me to keep an eye on the place while she's away. So I come in every once and awhile and make sure everything is okay." Anthony walked back toward the living room where she stood. He chuckled at what looked like fire in her eyes. "Don't you worry your pretty little head though, I won't be using it. I wouldn't want to have to play therapist again." He set a strong, firm hand on her shoulder as he spoke his last words.

Laura shook off his hand and pushed him away. "Now that's just rude. I already apologized for that. I thought we were going to forget that ever happened" She turned and stomped into the kitchen. She took the Rum from the liquor cabinet and added it to the Coke that Anthony had correctly identified as one of the contents of the refrigerator.

Argh, what an arrogant, condescending jerk? Laura could not believe her grandmother trusted this man with her house. She would not trust him as far as she could throw him. He just waltzed in here as if he owned the place and then had the audacity to make fun of her. Unbelievable!

When she could no longer hear his heavy footsteps after he ascended the stairs, she grew impatient waiting for his departure. "Everything okay up there, officer. Any big bad scary things I should know about?"

"Well," his low voice growled from behind her. She screamed and jumped backward bumping into the kitchen counter.

"Damn it... Will you stop sneaking up behind me." Laura screamed at him, as her hand went to her chest to physically slow her racing heart. "It's scary and just plain creepy." She hit him on the arm. She took a large gulp of her rum and coke to compose herself. "So, did you find the boogey man or is he still on the loose? If you have a free moment, I think there used to be a monster under the bed too." She ended with an exaggerated eye roll.