The Quiet Wife by J.M. Cannon

Author:J.M. Cannon [Cannon, J.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

STORM CLOUDS

The following morning, Howard and I made breakfast together and I stood in the doorway and waved like a housewife as he drove off to Aspen. I hadn’t seen Miranda or my sister since the welcome bonfire and while I was content to let the frustrations with my sister simmer, I was curious what Miranda had been up to. I found it hard to believe she wasn’t fazed by everything that had happened.

Then again, she had her own coping mechanism. Miranda called me hungover and wasn’t trying to hide it. She wanted to get some fresh air and hike and we agreed to go to Morrow Lake. I was terribly curious after talking with Jack and wasn’t going to do it alone. I had looked at the pamphlet that was left on the counter when we moved in and it had a map of all the hiking trails. Morrow Lake even had its very own path that started where the houses ended.

Miranda said she’d be at my place at noon. She wasn’t often late, but it was 12:30 when I saw her walking down my driveway. I opened the front door and we briefly embraced.

“How’ve you been?” I asked.

“I’m not the one that needs asking. How’s your sister?” She looked past me as if she might spot Bea.

“I haven’t seen her since the bonfire.”

“It’s that bad, huh?”

“Her following me across the country this time is just… we’re not kids anymore. It’s ridiculous.”

Miranda set her hand on my chest. “If you feel like you’re going to make this place known for another murder, let me know. You can come over and vent.”

I wheezed out a laugh. “Thanks. It’s okay. Just so you know, Howard wants us to be gone in a couple weeks. I don’t have to endure much more of her.”

“I’m keeping my place.”

“Really?”

“I mean, I get the hippie vibe of community was kinda killed along with the Millers, but I’m not just going to up and leave. Those others moving makes room for someone better I suppose.”

“Wait, who left?”

“That hippie-looking couple, the Larson’s. They sold back to Philip. And that old guy. Michael something. I guess his little speech about husbands killing their wives still didn’t mean he was comfortable. Have you checked your email?”

While I did manage to get to Gypsum and set up a PO box yesterday, I didn’t do much else. I hadn’t checked my email in a while. “No.”

“He said they took him up on his offer. But good riddance, in a sense. I’m addicted to this place. I honestly forgot silence like this exists. Have you sat outside at all and just… listened?”

“I haven’t really had time.”

“Well, are you ready?” She motioned towards the door. “We’ve got time now.” Miranda stepped back outside and whirled around like a child while I slipped on my boots. In a second, we were walking down my driveway together in silence.

It was warmer than it had been the last couple of days. I could barely see my breath.

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