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THURSDAY
Nina didn’t need to check the calendar to know the day had arrived. She’d felt it in her bones around midnight the way people with arthritis feel the cold. Though hard every single year, this year was torture because now she was responsible for a second man’s death.
Yet the day had come. She’d spent the whole night staring into the blackness, tossing and turning until she’d decided she had to do something to relax. So she’d crept into the closet and drained the Hennessy until she couldn’t drink anymore. When she’d stumbled back to bed, she’d finally been able to sleep, although rest was short lived.
Now back on the bed, she reached for the phone on the nightstand. She opened the blinds, wishing sunlight could lift her spirits, but it was still mostly dark. Though it was only six a.m., she’d waited as long as she could and had to text Deja. “Let me know when you do it.”
A hand pressed against Nina’s back. “Either tell me, or give Deja up,” Rodney said.
Nina didn’t look at Rodney. “What?”
“Tell me what happened with Deja that led you to believe someone’s after you.”
“I can’t.” At least she could be honest about that.
“Tell me what it is.” Rodney’s voice grew louder.
Nina didn’t answer.
With a huff, Rodney got out of bed. Nina started when the bathroom door slammed behind him. Lying on her pillow, she focused on the water pounding the shower floor.
Five minutes later, he emerged. “Tell me what I can do. What is it, Nina? I want to help. I don’t want to go down this path again.”
Nina needed to do something to get Rodney off her back. If he kept digging, he’d find a dead body. “You can do one thing.” She stood and wrapped her hands around Rodney’s head, pressing her lips against his. “I need you, Rod.” She kissed him again, desperately needing him to return her advances. “I just need you to make it better.” That was the truth. She needed to forget about everyone and everything. That was why she’d married Rodney—to try to leave the past behind her.
Rodney kissed her back. “But what’s going—”
Nina kissed Rodney mid-sentence. They moved in unison backward to their bed. Nina sat on the edge then leaned down. Rodney followed her lead, his mouth on hers. He slid one hand up her shirt and squeezed her breast. His other hand slipped down her panties.
Nina kissed his neck while pulling down his boxers. He tasted familiar, and his scent was like the strong soap he used. She needed to lose herself in him, her husband. He represented everything normal.
Rodney spread Nina’s legs, and when he entered her, she moaned. She arched her back, and his rhythm matched hers.
“I love you, Nina.”
She couldn’t remember the last time Rodney had said those words to her. Tears of joy and pleasure formed in her eyes. “I love you too.” Her head fell to the right.
A black-masked figure stood in the window. She screamed.
Rodney faced the window. “What the—”
“What?”
Rodney pulled up his boxers and ran out of the door. Nina got up and chased after him to the front door. When Rodney threw open the door, the black Sedan sped down the street.
“I’m calling the police.”
“You saw him?” Nina put her hands to her head.
“Of course I did. Nina, go close the blinds and put some clothes on. No one’s safe with some creep like that on the loose.”
Nina couldn’t move. Battling her mind was one thing; battling an unknown person was something else. The fact that there was a real person stalking her, and it wasn’t her imagination, sent chills down her spine.
“You’re half-naked. Please, go get dressed.”
Nina forced one foot in front of the other. The worst day of the year had gotten worse.
***
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, Nina wrapped her hands around her favorite coffee mug, which was losing its warmth. Rodney stood behind her with his hands resting on her shoulders. She couldn’t focus on the words coming out of the young police officer’s mouth. He had hair so blond it was almost white and sea-blue eyes that were trained on the report he was drafting.
“So you didn’t recognize the person in your window, correct?” Officer Penn asked.
“I didn’t recognize him, but I think it’s the same person I saw outside my kitchen window, who drives the car that’s been following me.”
“Plus, he had black material covering his face,” Rodney said. “I know you’re probably thinking some peeping Tom isn’t a big deal, but this is serious. Whoever that was should be punished.”
Officer Penn hooked his pen to his shirt’s pocket. “I understand your concern, and believe me, breaking the law is always taken seriously. People will do things like this and not think about the consequences. But there’s nothing enjoyable about cold handcuffs on your wrists, a jail cell, and loss of freedom.”
Nina shivered. She’d been so intent on going to the police, but Deja had been right. There was no way Nina would survive jail time.
“Ma’am, you seem pretty shaken up. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Officer Penn asked her.
Nina half smiled at the officer. She’d murdered a man a few nights before, and now an officer sat in her home asking if she’d be okay. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
The officer grabbed his papers, stood, and extended his hand to Rodney. “I have both your statements, and we’ll let you know if there are any developments.”
Rodney shook the officer’s hand. “Thank you. I have to get my girls to school. So if there aren’t any other questions...”
“No, we’re done here.”
As Rodney led him out of the kitchen, Nina went to the cabinet. She jostled a pill out of the bottle and into her palm. After pouring a glass of water, she swallowed the pill, willing it to work.
“What’s going on, Mommy?” Bree entered the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.
“Was that a policeman?” Laila followed her sister.
“Yes,” Nina said.
“Why was he here?” Bree asked.
Rodney returned to the kitchen. “He was checking to make sure everything is okay.”
“With Mommy? Is Mommy sick again?” Bree’s voice edged close to panic.
“No, she’s fine.” Rodney smoothed down Bree’s stray hairs. “He was just... checking on the neighborhood. Sometimes police do that.”
Thankful for Rodney, Nina had no idea how to answer their questions.
Bree looked suspiciously at Nina. “You feeling better now?”
Nina started to say no, but Bree was asking about her health health, not mental health. “I’m feeling better, Bree.”
“See. I knew soup would help,” Laila said.
“Then I can do this.” Bree ran to Nina, wrapping her arms around her, and hugged her tight.
“Me, too. Me, too.” Laila joined in the hug.
Whether it was the girls’ love or the fear from earlier, Nina couldn’t contain her emotions anymore. She burst into sobs that racked her body.
“Girls, let Mommy go rest. She’s still not feeling back to one hundred percent.” Rodney led Nina out of the kitchen and to their bedroom. He shut the blinds then sighed. “I can’t wrap my mind around what’s been going on lately. How are you?”
Nina sank into the bed. “My brother killed himself eight years ago today. People said it’d get easier, but it hurts. I still miss him.”
“I’m so sorry. Why don’t you just rest today? I’ll go into work for a couple hours, and I’ll be home at lunch. Then we could just have some time to ourselves for a change. And Nina, please, no more contact with Deja.”
“Okay. I can do that.” Nina lay down and closed her eyes after Rodney left. She tried to block out the confusion and thoughts that raced through her mind like a toy that’d been wound up tight then let loose. The lack of sleep was catching up to her, and sleeping until Rodney got back home seemed like a good plan.
Her door creaked open. “Shhh, Mom’s going back to sleep.” Bree failed at a whisper.
Nina opened her eyes in time to see orange juice appear on her nightstand and the girls’ backs as they skipped out of the room. She faded back to sleep. Giggling caused her to open her eyes again. The girls were nowhere to be seen, but a plate of toasted waffles rested next to the orange juice. Nina sat up. The girls were like a ray of sunshine in a cloudy life. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Nina called.
“Incoming!” Laila jumped up from the side of the bed and leaped through the air, landing next to Nina.
Bree climbed onto the bed and snuggled up to Nina. “I don’t want you to be sick or sad anymore. I love you.”
Tears misted Nina’s eyes. “You two make me so happy, and I love you both so much.”
Nina had to do everything in her power to protect her daughters. Though she didn’t know where to start, she was determined to find out who’d been at her window this morning and stop him or her for good. Though Deja didn’t think there was any connection to Kevin, Nina wasn’t so sure and had to find out.