Without You by Alesha Dykema

Author:Alesha Dykema [Dykema, Alesha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brandywine House Publishing
Published: 2024-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

twenty-six

SCARLETT – NOW

I don’t know why I feel pulled to Chicago. It’s a few hours away, and it’s late, but Evan being out of town for even a little while means my loved ones are safe at home. This gives me the rare opportunity to be on the offense instead of defense. So I merge onto the northbound highway.

Seeing the apartment building I once lived in is jarring. It feels like another lifetime. Was another lifetime. I park in the parking garage and stroll into the lobby with my head held high and my shoulders back. The man behind the manager’s desk is not one I remember seeing when I lived here. Seven years is a long time, and an apartment desk clerk is not usually a tenured job, so it makes sense. Though, I wish it was someone from before. Someone who might remember me.

Oh well.

“Hi, Lance,” I say, reading his name tag. “I live in apartment 23B, and I’ve lost my key. My husband won’t be home until next week to have a new one made. Would you—oh, hold on one sec.” I pull my cell phone from my pocket and put it to my ear. “Hi, baby. No, not yet. I’m talking to Lance at the front desk now. I’ll be safe inside in less than five minutes, don’t you worry. I will. Okay. Okay. I love you too. Bye-bye.”

I turn back to the desk. “He’s all worked up and worried. He said to tell you he appreciates your helping me and to bring you down a nice tip before the end of your shift.”

If I know Evan, he never took me off the lease of our apartment. It would be admitting I was really gone and never coming back, and I don’t think his ego would allow it.

The poor man looks a little flustered. “One moment. 23B, you said?”

I nod, trying to ignore the nerves and the doubts. He wouldn’t have taken me off.

He taps at the keyboard of his computer. “What did you say your name was?”

“Scarlett Brewer.”

Please don’t ask me for an ID. The only ID I have is for Scarlett Dwyer.

“Right. Okay. Let me grab the master keys.”

I try not to look too relieved. “Thank you again for your help. You’re a lifesaver.”

I follow him to the elevator and continue to talk his ear off, so he doesn’t have space to ask me questions or think about how he’s never seen me here before. Maybe he’s new. Because Evan hasn’t had a wife here for seven years, and that’s something someone working at the front desk should probably know.

He unlocks the door and smiles as he pushes it open.

“Oh, wait right there! Let me grab you some cash for being so helpful.” I run to the kitchen drawer where we always kept our spare cash. There are two singles and a hundred-dollar bill. It’s his lucky day. I hand him the hundred, and he stuffs it into his pocket.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Thank you.”

He walks away, and I shut the door.

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