Accidental Neighbor by Sharon Woods
Chapter 8
Jennifer
Emma is standing in front of me, hands on her hips, eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer. She's been a sweet friend and a great co-worker for the last year, but I do not feel comfortable going into too much detail. And there isn’t much to tell. I kissed him on a drunken night out and now I find out he has a family. Not something I want to shout from the rooftop. The interaction with Thomas will be kept for Olivia and Katie only. I know Emma did not hear a lot of the conversation between Thomas and me because we were not in the room with her long enough.
“He was not, and I don't know him personally.” I preoccupy myself with packing toys away, avoiding eye contact with her. I mess around as she continues.
“Are you sure about that? He looked like a lovestruck puppy.” I turn toward her at that comment, my mouth hanging open, watching as she mimics a sad puppy dog face. I roll my eyes at her actions and return to packing more toys away but the corner of my lip rises.
“You, Emma, are seeing things,” I say.
“If you say so…” The door swings open and we turn our heads at the movement.
“Jen, Emma, I’m so sorry. What a nightmare,” Helen puffs, saving me from further questions. My shoulders drop and I take in Helen's appearance. Her short brunette hair is ruffled and unkempt, and you can tell she has been running her hands through it a lot. It’s so carefree and unlike Helen. Her lipstick is completely worn off, which is rare. The only time I see her without it is while she’s eating, but she’s always quick to reapply as soon as she’s finished. It’s a testament to how bad her morning has been.
“It's fine. Helen. We have it handled here. I'll turn the kettle on and make you some tea. It sounds like a really bad morning,” I say.
Helen's shoulders slump and she exhales a large breath. “That would be amazing, Jen. I'll be in my office. Could you please bring it to me there? Would you mind?”
I smile. “Not at all. I’ll bring it to your office.”
“You’re a star.”
I gaze over at Emma who nods at me in acknowledgment. I go to the staff break room and begin making the tea before knocking on Helen’s door.
“Come in, Jen. You don't need to knock.”
Pushing the door open, I step in. I move some papers to lower the cup of tea on the desk, then I take a seat across from Helen.
“Did I miss much when I was out? Give me a quick rundown.” She picks up the tea and takes a sip.
I draw in a breath before talking. “Only one tour so far. A two-year-old girl named Rose. I booked her in for a trial this Thursday, and she officially starts next week. I wrote it in the appointment book. And there is another tour this afternoon. Did you want me to do it for you? Give you some time to catch up?” I peer at the mess scattered over her desk.
She takes another sip, then swallows and replies, “No, thanks. I'll welcome the distraction after this morning. I managed to get all the emails sorted while I waited for help.”
I nod. “I better get back and help Emma with the lunch and nap round.” I stand up.
“Good idea,” Helen mumbles as I spin and exit her office.
I still have a few hours of my shift to go. All I want to do when I get home is watch Netflix in bed. I sigh. I should really go for a run tonight. I’ve avoided it since my embarrassing encounter with Thomas on Saturday. Although apart from today, I haven’t seen my new neighbors around so maybe it's safe to fit a quick one in.
When I arrive home, no one else in my family is home yet. Taking advantage of having the place to myself and the peace and quiet, I flop on the couch with a bag of chips. Before I know it, half an hour has slipped by and I need to get moving before I ditch the exercise altogether. I quickly change into shorts and an oversized black t-shirt. I shove my headphones in, phone in hand, and go outside. I make sure the door is locked before I pull it closed. Mom and Dad work late most nights and I have no idea where Megan is, but she stays at her friend’s house after school some days to do homework.
I run off in the opposite direction of Thomas’s house. I do a small run of the block in twenty minutes. It’s slower than I usually do, but my legs keep giving out on me and I can’t shake the stitch in my left side. I hold the left side of my stomach, panting, as I make it back to the front door. This is why I try not to skip my runs. The driveway is still empty of my family's cars. I screw my face up. Stuffing my hand into the pocket of my shorts, I grab the— Shit. I frantically pat down my body, anywhere that could be hiding a key, but… nothing.
I'm busting for the toilet; why did I not go before I decided to take a run? Standing at the door I shuffle from side to side and look around to take my mind off the urge, but it is not helping ease my need. What will I do?
My hands are balled into tight fists as I glance around the front yard for a spot, but there are no trees around and only a few small bushes along the path. The rest is grass and I would be visible to many cars that come driving past. I pace the front door, scratching my forehead; I cannot hold it much longer. My parents will still be working so I call my sister—no answer. I try another few times. No luck. Who else can I call that has a key?
Coming up empty, I let out an audible sigh.
I wish my parents would have listened to me when I mentioned leaving a key around the house for emergencies. Like today. I stand and wait for Megan to call me back.
I check the time and it has been twenty minutes and still zero calls back. I scroll social media for more distraction as another ten minutes pass but now the pain is unbearable.
The pacing and shuffling have increased. I can't come up with any other ideas. I walk along our sidewalk and down the entry of the house next door. His door. The front is simpler than ours with hedges lining along the path and driveway, with thick green grass. I stare at the metal gated door, scanning for a bell. I frown. With no doorbell to press, I inhale and hold while I raise my fist and bang softly on the door.
The few minutes feels like hours, but no one comes. His white Range Rover is parked in the drive, so I know they are home. I let out a deep breath and bang harder this time, the metal banging my palm. I shake my hand to remove the pain.
I shuffle from foot to foot, my hands clasped together in a painful squeeze, my heartbeat accelerating the longer I'm standing here. My bladder is spasming, reminding me why I'm standing at his door.
I hear the running and high-pitched squeals of the girls, which has my heartbeat calming a tad and a small perk of my lip. I hear slow, heavy footsteps and my heart begins to pick up speed again. The wooden door opens, leaving only the metal security door between us.
“Jen?” His tone is questioning. I'm unable to see his face through the metal.
“Hello.” Lily speaks from lower down. My eyes can see the small shadow but his voice cuts in.
“Lily, could you stand back a moment, please. I just want to open the door.”
The door slowly opens, and his face comes into view. His brows are furrowed. His hand has not left the metal door handle. My heart skips at the sight of him. I feel a rise in my body temperature and perspiration running down my back, making the t-shirt grip like a second skin. He is in casual clothes—a white t-shirt, a pair of sweatpants, and bare feet. Shit, he is hot.
I clear my throat. “Hi, Tom. Hi, girls! I'm so sorry to bother you… I, er, need to use your bathroom,” I plead as my cheeks heat. I lower my eyes to meet Lily's, avoiding her dad’s.
“Why? Don’t you have one at your house?” Lily squeaks, her head tilting up in my direction.
“Good question, Lily. I accidently locked myself out, and I cannot get back inside.” I begin twisting my hands together, trying to shift the pain away from the bladder.
“Where are your keys?” Lily’s questions continue.
“Inside my house.”
Her face scrunches up at my answer.
My lips perk at her confusion.
“Lily, please, that's enough questions. How about we let Jen in to go to the bathroom?”
He pushes the door open wider.
“Thank you so much. Again, I’m so sorry for interrupting.” I step forward and up the step onto the white gloss tiles. My skin prickles as I pass him in the entry. He closes the door, locking it behind me, as I stand to the side of the large hallway. I can briefly see a dark bedroom behind the door with heavy drapes that are pulled closed. His bedroom. I wondered what it would look like. I would love to take a peek. Would it be a wood bed or a more modern style? My bladder twinges, reminding me I need to urgently go and how inappropriate my thoughts are. Why does he have this effect on me?
“It’s fine. The bathroom is down this way. Follow me.” The girls go sprinting past me in their pretty matching white dresses.
Rose trails behind Lily. I smile as the thoughts of growing up with my sister Megan filter in my mind. Megan was my shadow; she would always play any game I wanted to and we were very close. The girls remind me of us.
We walk down the hall past a stunning white and marble kitchen with modern appliances. Stopping just before an opening in the wall on the right, he points. “The bathroom is just through that hall. Lily and Rose, can you leave Jen alone and help me in the kitchen?”
I laugh under my breath at his warning, but right now I do not care if the girls follow. I just need to relieve myself as soon as possible. I'm busting at the seams. The pain is unbearable. I hurry off to the bathroom and when I finish, I walk quietly back out to the kitchen. I see he has two white cups laid out in front of him. “Do you want coffee or tea?” he offers as I wander closer to stand behind the island counter.
“Thanks for the offer, but I wouldn’t want to take up more of your time. I’m sure you’re busy.” My gaze finds the girls in the living room, and I realize it's probably their dinnertime. “Thank you for letting me in. I don’t even want to think about what I—” I pause as heat rises to my cheeks, not wanting to finish that sentence.
“What about the other neighbor?” he questions.
My gaze returns to him as I answer, “He isn’t home much; he travels a lot for work.”
My parents have lived in the same house since I was born. They have always kept good relationships with every neighbor we have ever had.
“Ah, okay. It’s still early. I'm sure tea or coffee won’t kill us.” He winks and heat rises from my neck, leaving me speechless. At my lack of response his eyebrows perk up, waiting for my answer to his question.
“Right, ah, I would love tea,” I quickly stammer.
I pull out a bar stool that is tucked under the island and prop myself up, trying to keep my balance so I do not fall over and make a fool of myself. I seem to continually make an idiot of myself in front of him. He probably thinks of me as some juvenile.
Without warning the Bluey theme song blares through the kitchen. I jump at the sudden increase in volume.
“Lily. Turn the television down, now. Do not be rude.” His voice is stern.
I smirk as I turn my head to follow the direction of the sound. Lily and Rose are in the living room dancing and singing the words to the intro song. My heart warms at the sight; they are too cute, just like their father. I bite my lip between my teeth before I turn back around to face him. I watch him move around his kitchen effortlessly. The muscles he keeps hidden are more evident through his tight white t-shirt.
He is stirring his coffee with his right hand, his left is laid on the countertop and I notice the ring finger—empty. Has he forgotten to put it on? I can’t recall ever noticing one. I could kick myself for never paying attention.
Divorced? Widowed? I’m still staring at the finger as his question cuts in.
“Do you take sugar or milk?"
My gaze flies back to him. “No sugar and just a dash of milk please.”
He peers down at his finger and balls his fist before dragging it from the counter and dropping it beside him as he walks over to the refrigerator. My eyes are glued to the movement, a pang of guilt hitting my stomach. The hand still clenched beside his thigh, he grabs the milk before closing the door and walking back to the drinks to add the milk. When he arrives at the counter his fist unclenches, and I glance up into a pair of empty brown eyes. The spark is no longer there as he stares back at me with a blank look.
Great. Well done. Now I have made it awkward. I cringe inwardly. He doesn’t speak after that.
When he slides the tea across the marble counter, I take a sip of the hot drink, welcoming the burn on my tongue. “Thanks for this. I'll head out as soon as I finish,” I mumble. I keep my focus on the mug between my hands, ready to escape the tension I created.
My head snaps up at the rustle of a packet as Thomas slides some biscuits between us, still not meeting my eyes.
I tap my feet along the footrest trying to distract myself. It’s none of my business, but I can’t help but wonder what happened. I should leave, but even with the thought, I can’t quite bring myself to get up and go. I’m reaching for a biscuit when his words stop me in my tracks.
“She died.”