Page 276 of The Sinner: James

The First Dayof Spring

I openthe windows and let the sunlight tumble into my apartment while a smile tilts my lips and renewed hope courses through my veins.

For the first time in a long time, things feel good.

Spring has taken over the streets of Manhattan, and the short days of winter are long gone.

Golden light now glows over the sidewalks.

The temperature is mild, the air breezy, and people walk up and down the streets and in the park, enjoying their late afternoon stroll.

Glancing around the apartment, I sigh contently.

This month, I’ve had people redesign my place and remove anything reminiscent of a not-so-distant past.

I cleared my space ofhimtoo.

The painting, the expensive clothing, and the jewelry have all been returned to Sexton Holdings’ headquarters in the first week of January.

A quarter of a million dollars was transferred to his account a week later.

Neither of my gestures has rendered a response from him.

In fact, I’ve never heard from him again.

With that, I closed that chapter of my life.

Smiling, I set a bunch of tulips in a vase and run my fingers over the petals brimming with life. They’re white, red, yellow, and pink.

The phone hums quietly on the table, rousing me from my reverie.

I scoop it up and answer the call.

“Miss Rain?”

“Yes, Neil.”

“There’s another delivery for you,” the concierge clerk says. “I just let the guy in, and he’s on his way.”

“Okay. I’ll open the door.”

Messengers deliver flowers and gift-wrapped boxes with fancy birthday cards for the next couple of hours.

When I finish setting everything in ceramic vases, an explosion of colors surrounds me.

Eve calls me and starts singing.

“Happy Birthday to you... ”

I listen to her, smiling.

“Are you ready for tonight?” I ask a moment later.

“Yes. Are you sure you don’t want a surprise party?”

“What kind of surprise would that be if you asked me about it?”

“Just saying,” she says with a cheerful disposition. “Dinner sounds good.”

---