As Evie thought, she again considered going to the salon to try and see Sandy there. But it wasn’t the day Sandy normally went. She was always there on a Sunday after church, and Sunday wasn’t until tomorrow. Evie was tired of being sheepish and not confronting people. And apparently Caleb was someone who stood strong for others, and she yearned to do the same thing for him, to confront someone about their stupidity and childish behavior.
But even if Sandy found out, how did she find out?
She sat up and grabbed her phone to open Facebook. Thankfully, he hadn’t unfriended her, and now there was really no need to. She pushed on and checked Sandy’s friend list. It was going to take her forever to scroll through over three thousand people, so she typed a name in the search bar.
Ashley Wright.
Ashley’s name came up as Ashley Polley Wright. Joshua and Sarahweren’t on her friend list, and neither was Hunt or Martin or even Hawkins.
Caleb was not on there. She tried everyone. Hell, she even tried her own brothers’ names and all of her family, including her late pawpaw. She even tried her coworkers’ names and her boss’s name. Nothing was showing up. Kelly was on there of course, Kelly Potts.
Evie was truly stunned and stumped. She rubbed her face and finally let out all her breath. The mystery was building more and more. There was someone who put the bug in Sandy’s ear, because Caleb told her that Sandy told Ashley that someone toldher. It wasn’t like Sandy simply told Ashley that they had an affair. No, she’d heard it from someone. It could’ve been Kelly, but how did Kelly find out?
Instead of waiting until tomorrow, Evie messaged Sandy outright. She wrote, “Hey, Sandy. I wanted to clear the air a bit in case you’ve been misinformed. Caleb Wright was doing some work for me, and it sparked a gossip chain that he and I were having an affair, and we’re not. I’m actually seeing someone in the city.” That was a brilliant ending, because it called back to what she had told Hunt at the Songbird Café earlier that she was seeing someone.
She continued writing, “So if someone told you otherwise, you’ve been misinformed.” She ended it with a smiley emoji. “It’d be nice to see you at the salon sometime! I’ve not been there for a long time. Hope you’re well!”
She sent it, keeping it cordial.
Sandy saw it and wrote back, “I appreciate you trying to clear the air, Evie. But someone saw you kissing Caleb like two hormonally-deranged teens about ready to fuck against your car outside O’Malley’s in Freeton. This is not about his truck being there. And I think it’s low as fuck of you to be macking up with a man who’s still legally married. Goes to show Caleb’s true colors.”
Evie lost her breath. Now someone was absolutely fuckingstalkingher. No longer did she feel like it was Caleb’s risk alone. Someone was following her and watching her house. Her chest tightened, and her stomach flipped a bit. She made a mental note to buy a ring camera.
But Sandy went on, “Not to mention they caught you kissingoutside in your driveway. So, nice try. But I ain’t fucking buying your innocent act, sweetie.”
Evie lost her nerve. “You need to tell me who told you. Because now this isn’t just about Caleb’s divorce. This is about the fact that apparently, someone is stalking me. And I’m freaking out.”
“Oh, stop making it about you. Always fucking playing innocent victim. No one in this town likes you. You piss everyone off on the discussion page with your high and mighty antics. You think people like you because of the work you’ve done but that’s a just few people. Ashley and the kids are the ones hurting right now. Not you. Fuck off with your victim shit. No one’s stalking you, Evie. People go places, you’re just a slut who makes it obvious to the world. Learn some decency.” Sandy twisted the knife. “Jesus would want you to.”
With that, Sandy blocked her.
Evie felt her breath quickening with a violent panic attack coming on. It was the worst one she had ever had. She tried to breathe deeply, but it didn’t work or help at all. She rushed for her purse and popped a few CBD chews into her mouth, but the escalation happened so instantly that she couldn’t contain it. The room began to fade; her legs grew numb. She called helplessly for her cat as she reached for the phone to dial 911. This time, she was truly alone. She couldn’t call Caleb.
Alone.
The color dripped from her face with sweat alongside it. Her breath became shallow, and her lips tingled. Teddy came in and rubbed against her frantically, trying to get her attention.
Alone.
Dying.
Alone.
Dying.
Frantically, she dialed and heard the voice say back, “911, what’s the location of your emergency?”
Evie stuttered, feeling herself losing consciousness, “6390 Maple-”
She collapsed, unconscious.
“Hello? Ma’am?” the voice on the other line said. “Ma’am?”
Evie was motionless on the floor, and Teddy yowled to the air. He licked his mother’s nose, and she didn’t move. Once more, he gave out asad meow and purred against her face, nestling down by her neck. He push-pawed into her neck gently.
Evie didn’t get up.
And the snow fell gently outside.
