Page 119 of Committed to You

The wood on the porch is half rotten and creaks when I walk on it. I push open the door and enter the small cabin.

Knotty pine paneling covers the walls and ceiling of the kitchen/living room area. Musty air flares in my nostrils. A green plaid armchair that’s seen better days and an orange couch are the only furniture in the living space.

“Sit.” She shoves the gun deeper into my back and pushes me into the armchair. A mouse runs over my lap as I sit, and I scream.

Meredith laughs. “You’re so weak.”

“Meredith, what do you want from me?”

Her cold laugh sends chills through me. “You stole my Thursday. Twice now.”

“Twice?”

Her face turns red with rage. “In New York. Last week. You stole my days.”

She wants her day back.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was your day. You can have Thursday.”

“You’ve turned him against me.”

“Meredith—”

“Shut up. You had your last day with him. He’ll see.”

The hair on my neck stands up.

“What do you mean?”

She doesn’t answer me, sets my purse on the table, finds my phone, and tosses it to me. “Call him.”

“Call Chase?”

“Yes,” she screams so loud it echoes while she waves the gun around. “Who else would I be telling you to call? Santa? Call him now and put it on speaker.”

Call Chase. What can I say so she doesn’t kill me?

“What should I say?”

“Call him now, or I shoot.”

I punch in my code and tap Chase’s name. I put it on speaker, and he answers right away.

“Vivian, where are you?”

I look at Meredith, not sure what she wants me to say.

“Vivian!”

“Chase, it’s me,” she says sweetly as if he is her boyfriend, and nothing is out of the ordinary. Another chill runs through me as I watch her face change.

There’s a brief pause then, “Meredith. What have you done?”

She laughs. “Nothing. I’m waiting for you.”

“Where’s Vivian?”

She points the gun at my heart. “Answer him.”

---