“If you go in without a warrant, they’ll claim there’s been a misunderstanding and destroy the evidence,” I replied. “I need my things. Ten minutes, Harris. Promise me.”
“I’m on my way. Two blocks away. Ten minutes.”
I hung up, started the car and drove home.
When I pulled into the driveway, Ryan’s car and Diane’s SUV were parked side by side. The house looked exactly as it had an hour ago—a perfect suburban dream. I reached into my car’s center console, grabbed the small, police-grade pepper spray canister I kept for late-night jogs, and slipped it into the deep pocket of my lightweight jacket. My hand stayed in the pocket, my thumb resting on the safety latch.
I unlocked the front door and pushed it open.
The scent of white roses hit me first, but it no longer smelled good. It smelled like a funeral home. It smelled rotten.
“I’m back!” I shouted, forcing a lightness into my voice that I didn’t feel.
I walked into the living room. Ryan and Diane were sitting on the plush velvet sofa. They weren’t sitting like a mother and son. They were sitting thigh to thigh. Diane’s hand rested intimately on Ryan’s knee, her fingers lazily tracing the fabric of his jeans.
When they heard my voice, they collapsed with lightning speed. Diane stood, smoothing her blouse, displaying that sweet, sickly, maternal smile. Ryan jumped to his feet, his face lighting up with that terribly beautiful smile.
It took all my willpower not to vomit on the carpet.
“There’s my beautiful wife!” Ryan said, walking towards me. “Have you paid for the sail deposit?”
“It’s done,” I lied softly, avoiding his attempt to hug me. I couldn’t let him touch me. If he touched me, I would break. “I just need to grab my tote bag from the bedroom, and we can go. The car should be here any minute.”
“I’ll get it for you, darling,” Diane offered, heading towards the hallway.
“No!” I said, a little too abruptly. I forced a laugh. “No, Diane, thank you. I need to make sure I’ve packed my specific moisturizer. You know how my skin ends up on airplanes. I’ll be there in two seconds.”
