Chapter 46. Escape

Julia

Jeff flings open the front door, and Mr. Stringer is standing there. I am in the doorway of the bedroom now, my luggage in my hands as I see my husband trying to grapple with the idea that one of his supervisors from work is standing here on our doorstep now, clearly listening to us fight.

My husband tries to compose himself. “Mr. Stringer. What are you doing here?” he asks, his voice bordering on still out of control as he attempts to get himself back into a civilized manner.

“I heard shouting,” Mr. Stringer says, matter-of-fact. “I decided to come and see if everything is well.”

“Heard shouting?” Jeff echoes. “But… how is that possible? I thought that you lived across town.”

“I do,” he says, making it seem as if we were just that loud. But then he continues. “I have been staying next door, Mr. Thompson. You should’ve known better than to think that Mr. Merriweather would just trust you to be all right with this arrangement, not