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As I’m dishing the food into her bowl, I think I hear a noise at the door.
I freeze, and so does my heart. I wait for a knock, but there isn’t one.
I drop the spoon and hurry over to the door to make sure it’s locked. When he said all that stuff about the men and syringes, I told myself he wouldn’treallyresort to such drastic—and illegal—measures, but who know? Maybe he would.
The lock on the door is secure, so is the deadbolt and the chain lock. I lean against the door and try to listen, but I don’t hear anything on the other side.
Maybe it was my imagination.
Hell, maybe it was someone else who lives in this building just walking by.
I’m too afraid to open the door and check.
I wait for a few minutes, then peek through the peephole to make sure there’s no one in the hallway.
If anyone was there, it seems they left.
Ihopethey left. I’m terrified to open the door, so I unlock the knob and the deadbolt, but leave the chain lock secured so the door can only open a teeny bit.
I’m tentatively relieved when the door cracks open, and no one pops up and tries to shove it open the rest of the way to force their way inside my home. I peek out and don’t see anybody, but I do see a box on the floor.
A delivery. Did I order anything?
I didn’t, but it’s not impossible Charity ordered something for me. I’m still cautious as I unlock the door. I open it, grab the present quickly, and then slam the door shut and lock all three locks with shaky fingers.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I look down at the big gray gift box with a silver bow on top.
Nordstrom is subtly embossed on the lid, which is another good indicator that it’s probably a gift from Charity and not a severed head or something else horrendous from Calvin.
I haul the box to the kitchen and put it on the counter. When I draw off the lid, I see a note lying on top of the tissue paper.
Hallie,
How unfortunate you weren’t able to make our date this evening.
I’ve taken the liberty of rescheduling for tomorrow.
My driver will pick you up at six o’clock.
You will be wearing this.
You will come to my place for dinner.
See you then.
-Calvin
Adrenaline courses through my body.
I don’t know what I expected, exactly. I guess I thought I wouldn’t hear from him again after I stood him up, but I didn’t expect a “you’ve been rescheduled” notice, and certainly not a present.
I pull back the layers of tissue paper to reveal stunning white, sequined material. There are subtle geometric shapes that glisten as the light hits the sequins. I pull out the shimmering fabric and find it’s an absolutely beautiful sheath dress, the classiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on in my whole life.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” I murmur, since only Marie can hear me.
She comes over to see what all the fuss is about—or maybe just to see what distracted me from serving her food.
My eyes rake over the gorgeous gown. My fingers skim the banded waist.
