Page 263 of Nobody's Girl

He stands up rather abruptly, his bare body taut and rippled with new muscles that draws my attention and admiration. “I have to take a shower. I have to clear my head,” he says as he walks away from me. “Don’t leave our suite!” Then he disappears into the bathroom.

Guess he doesn’t remember being in the shower.

I get out of the bed and get dressed. As I sit at my vanity, fixing my hair, I find myself wondering what kind of horror my husband has just witnessed in his head.

Why does he want me to not leave our suite? Was it a premonition? What can be done to change the outcome if it was?

He’s still in the shower when I finish getting ready, so I go to the living room of our suite. A knock at the door startles me. I jump, then laugh at myself for being so silly.

As I open the door, I find a short man standing there. He’s just a little taller than I am, which is not tall at just five foot four.  Thinning, grayish hair is swept to one side, trying to camouflage a growing bald spot.

Why do men do this? Just cut it right and be natural or get some implants!

The man holds a large bouquet of wildflowers as he stands in the long hallway, scanning my entire body.

In an effort to get him to look me in the eye, I say, “Oh, how nice. Please, put the flowers on the table.” Then I move back so he can come into the room.

He sets them down, then turns towards me. “Allow me to introduce myself, Alyssa Fontaine. I am Darren Stiles. I read about your marriage to Eden in the newspaper.”

I extend my hand to shake his, but he backs away from me.

Okay, maybe he’s a germaphobe!

I drop my hand. I’m not trying to offend him after all. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Stiles. Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful,” I tell him as I admire the large bouquet.

He stammers, “Uh, yeah, anyway, I just wanted to let you know that Eden used to see my daughter, Karen.”

What? What the hell is he talking about? Eden told me he never dated anyone.

The man sees the surprise in my eyes. A smirk forms on his thin lips.  “Maybe he didn’t tell you? I’ve never heard of you. You’re not from around here, are you? I mean, you talk funny.”

“I’m from New Mexico. Perhaps that’s why you’ve never heard of me.”

He fidgets for a second. “Too bad about your weird accent. Other than that, you’re very pretty.”

I find myself walking toward the door, as he’s making me uncomfortable. “Mr. Stiles, while it was very nice of you to drop by and bring flowers, I’m afraid we’re very busy today,” I say as I open the door. “So, if you could please see yourself out.” I gesture for him to leave.

He walks past me, then turns back to me. The smirk still has not left his chubby, red face. “See you around, Mrs. Fontaine.”

I close the door, lock it, then push the button with Eden’s father’s name on it. The intercom which is wired all over the mansion. “Papa?”

His soft French accent with just a touch of Southern to it answers me after a few moments. “Yes, darling.”

“A man was just at my door with flowers. Do you know who let him in?”

“A man! What? Alyssa, lock your door. Where’s Eden?”

“Taking a shower.”

“Go tell him to get out and get dressed. Don’t come out of your room until you hear me at your door. Make sure your balcony doors are locked as well. Do not open your curtains at all and stay away from the windows. Get Eden now,” he commands.

Oh, God, what the hell is going on? No one let him in? How did he get in? How did he know where to find us?

I see Eden’s closet door open, with a light streaming out of it. I go into it, finding him with black slacks on and nothing else.

“Eden, a man was just here. He brought flowers. He told me you dated his daughter,” I say, and find I’m clutching at my stomach as it feels like I’ve just been punched. “Anyway, the problem is no one let him in. He acted weird, too. Your father said to lock the door and not to come out until he comes to get us. He said you’d know what to do.”

I turn to go make sure everything is locked, but he’s at my side, his arm tight around my waist. I struggle to get away from him, as I find I’m mad at him for not telling me he dated someone before.