I’m finally free.
CHAPTER THREE
“Achoo!”
As I sweep under the bed, I sneeze for the seven hundredth time that afternoon. I’m making progress, but it will take a few days to make the cottage truly habitable. There’s dust on everything, and where there isn’t dust, there are thick spider webs. In the corner of the kitchen, I find what looks to be a graveyard of ants.
I sweep it all up and search for a trash can at the back of the house. A small veranda with two wooden chaise-loungesoffers a view of the trees. The floorboards groan in complaint. It wouldn’t take much to put my foot through.
Beside the veranda, I find an outdoor shower. The head looks like it’s rusting away, and there’s no barrier to give any sort of privacy. Not that it matters, though. What do I need privacy against out here? Horny squirrels? Pervy deer?
I eventually find a trash can and dump the dust inside, then sneeze a few more times.
“Bless you!”
I jump in surprise and manage to drop the metal pan on my foot.
“Oh!” It’s Grace. I smother a curse. “Hi.”
I’m taken aback by how put-together she looks. The wordshinycomes to mind. Subtle makeup, not a hair out of place. I notice that her black dress has vertical blue lines like pale veins, and I make a mental note to buy a knock-off online when I have the money.
“I’m heading out,” Grace says, a faint smile on her lips as she watches me wince. “There’s food in the kitchen.”
She immediately starts walking away, so I hobble after her. “Wait. Grace?”
“Hmm?” She doesn’t look at me or slow down.
“What do I do?”
“Do?” she responds, as if the question were the height of idiocy.
Yes, I think.How stupid to ask what you’re paying me for.
“The ad?—”
“Didn’t Bradley tell you?” She looks at the sky as if searching the heavens for patience. “He’ll be home later this evening. This was his grand idea.”
I want to insist, but she picks up her pace, so I let her go. Back in the cottage, I work for another hour until the cottage is mostly free of spider webs. I’ve propped the front door open with my bag, and I can see a galaxy of dust in the air. I can already tell I’ll be sneezing all night, but it’s a step in the right direction.
My phone buzzes from the table, and I check my texts.
Hope u are ok. Love u. Miss u.
Come home! Can offer a comfy bed. ??.
Are you ok? Not texting back. So worried about you! Love you so much. I feel like I’ve lost a piece of myself.
All an act to lure me back. I rehearse a few harsh replies but decide not to encourage him. He’ll taper off eventually. Or he won’t. Either way, I’m not going back.
I manhandle the mattress outside and spend a few minutes beating it senseless. When I’m done, I feel light-headed. I barely ate yesterday, and I haven’t had a proper sleep in two days.
I head towards the main house, and under the canopy of trees, it already feels like dusk. I’ll need to talk to Grace or Bradley about getting a flashlight, or I’m going to break my neck walking down here after dark.
I knock gently on the door before going inside, just in case she’s still here. The floorboards creak in complaint as I cross the living room to the hallway. There’s a curving staircase to the left, and the only open door leads to a dining room.
“This is crazy,” I whisper, counting the chairs around the enormous wooden table—twelve for just two people. I’ve never lived in a house with a dining room. I grew up eating at a cramped kitchen table, just me and Mom. In my first apartment with Neil, we didn’t even havethat.
Above the table is a grand chandelier. It’s obviously expensive, though all I can think about is accumulated dust.
