I took a step away from him feeling as if his very presence was the reason I couldn’t quite get my breath. “I just got spooked. I thought someone was in the house, and then I saw your shadow, and… my imagination got the best of me.”
I needed to tell Mr. D something… anything other than I may be losing my mind.
“You thought someone was in your house?” He was already scanning the immediate area with his piercing eyes. “Can I look around?”
I nodded with maybe too much zeal.
God yes. Please look around. Please don’t leave me alone. I can’t be alone.
“Did you hear noises?” he asked as he walked the front hallway with me following close behind.
I didn’t want to be left alone for even a second, not even as he checked out the house.
“No. I noticed that all the doors were open in the house.” I instantly regretted answering him the minute the words left my mouth.
He turned and looked at me with an eyebrow raised and narrowed eyes. “Do you normally keep them all closed or something?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s a big house. It makes me feel safer.”
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Mr. D continued walking in and out of every room, careful to open every closet and look under and behind every big piece of furniture. I stayed glued to his side, even though with every room searched and deemed safe, I was able to feel my heart beginning to beat normally again, and the shaking of my body stopped. Mr. D seemed to care, and that act alone seemed to make everything raging inside of me ease.
“Do you have an alarm system?” he asked as he made his way upstairs.
“I do, but I forgot to set it after you dropped me off.”
“What about video cameras?”
“I want them. But since this is just a vacation home we rarely used, my mom never got around to installing them. I tried to set them up myself, but…” I shook my head. “No, I don’t have cameras yet.”
Answering the question out loud made me realize how stupid I was. Why in the hell would I not install cameras? I was a young woman living alone, and I only relied on an alarm system that most likely was outdated.
“So, you close every door in the entire house?” he asked.
“Yes. I know I closed them all this morning.”
“But you were running late for school this morning. Could you have forgotten?” he asked, not knowing just how obsessive compulsive I was over the closing of doors and that was one of the main reasons I was always late for school. I had to check and double check so many times, I wouldn’t even be able to keep count.
“I’m positive,” I answered simply.
“Do you have a cleaning lady?” he asked as we made our way into my bedroom.
I pointed to the pieces of clothing thrown haphazardly around. “Obviously not.”
He gave a slanted grin but continued on with his investigation.
“Why did you come here?” I asked, suddenly realizing I didn’t even know why he came back after dropping me off.
“You forgot your chemistry book in my car. I figured you may need it for homework tonight. Since I had the gate code, I just drove in. Then I heard you screaming and well… I readied myself for a fight.”
We made our way to the kitchen, and at this point I was feeling much better, but my body nearly itched with the need to run and close every door again. I didn’t want to do it in front of Mr. D for fear of him not only wanting to speak to my mother about attendance but also about committing me.
He looked around the large room and seemed amused. “This is a huge kitchen for what I can only assume is very little cooking. Unless you’re some secret chef I didn’t know about.”
I appreciated his ability to try to lighten the mood and offered a smile that I figured he was on the hunt for.
His face grew serious as he studied me. “Everything looks fine here, but are you okay?”
I nodded as I folded my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling cold. “I’ll be fine. Like I said… just my imagination I guess.”
He seemed to study me for a long moment before releasing a deep breath. “Is there anyone you can call? Maybe go spend the night someplace? You still seem shaken.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m used to being here alone.”
He was analyzing me… I could tell. I’d been analyzed by enough people in my lifetime to know.
He walked to the counter and sat on a barstool. “Well, the least you can do is offer me a drink for saving your life.” He smiled, and I had to admit it warmed the chill that was taking over my body.
“I uh…” I opened the refrigerator even though I knew nothing was in it. “I don’t really have anything to offer.” I turned to face him. “I guess I could go down to the cellar and get a bottle of wine.” The thought of going downstairs in that dank and cold room alone terrified me, but it was the least I could do.
He stared into the empty fridge that I still held open. “What do you eat?”
I shrugged like it was no big deal that I stood in a mansion, but my refrigerator was completely bare. “Pizza. Or Chinese food.”
In reality, I hated the Chinese restaurant that delivered, but I had to make it sound like I didn’t just live off of pizza alone. Thank goodness for the lunch at school or I would most likely die of vitamin deficiency.
We stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity until I couldn’t take it any longer.
“Where’s my chemistry book?”
His narrowed eyes that hadn’t broken their stare on me widened. “Oh, I must have dropped it by the door when I charged in.”
Grateful to have a reason to leave the kitchen, I walked to the door, which was still wide open, and saw my book cast aside on the porch.
When I bent over to pick it up, I heard the words, “Why don’t you come out to dinner with me? I know of this great restaurant about twenty minutes outside of Black Mountain. A small drive, but worth it. They have a steak and baked potato that can’t be mimicked.”
Ahhh, the pity invite.
“I’ve taken up enough of your evening, Mr. —”
“We’ll be far enough from Black Mountain that you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you eat dinner with your principal and then teasing you tomorrow.”
I huffed. “I seriously doubt anyone would pay enough attention to me to even notice what I do or don’t do. But—”
“I’m starving. I’m sure you are too,” he interrupted. “Come on. My treat.”
I walked past him in the doorway and put the book on a nearby table. I looked at the open doors I could see, knowing there were more, and the thought of being left alone in the house again made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Corrine. Come on. Grab a jacket and your purse or whatever. I’m not taking no for an answer. I need the company and a good meal. And after the evening you’ve had, you do too.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him and knew he meant business. And at this point, I didn’t want to resist.
He walked into the living room. “Let’s shut all the doors and lock up before we go.”
Bless the man. I wanted to do that so badly but didn’t want to seem insane. I knew he was throwing me a bone, but I’d take it.