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Chapter 5
Chapter 5
“By the way, Rosemary, your Julian’s doing so well in the city. Why hasn’t he brought you all to live with him? Don’t tell me he’s ashamed of us small–town folks.”
Julian’s mother bristled slightly.
“Now, now, don’t go spreading rumors. My son would never… Actually, he’s promised that next year, he’ll bring me, Jessica, and little Ethan to live in the city. He’s even going to get us a big house with a view of the sea!”
Our current apartment was a spacious, high–rise unit overlooking the ocean. It seemed Julian was aiming to acquire not only the new subsidized housing but also the apartment my parents had generously provided for us.
Furthermore, their conversation revealed they were unaware that Julian and I were already legally married.
Suddenly, a small boy, undoubtedly Ethan, darted from the crowd and into Rosemary’s arms, exclaiming, “Grandma, Grandma, I want candy!”
“Alright, sweetie, let’s go home and get some,” she replied.
I followed Rosemary discreetly, keeping á safe distance as she walked toward the house she
called ‘home.‘
My heart pounded as the door swung open, revealing Jessica standing in the doorway. I bit back a gasp, my hand trembling as I quickly snapped a picture of them together with my
phone.
Just then, Julian’s name flashed across my screen, the insistent ringing a jarring contrast to the quiet street. Thankfully, I had silenced the ringer earlier. I let it ring a few times, building my composure, before answering.
“Honey, I miss you,” Julian’s voice echoed in my ear. “When are you coming back tomorrow? I’ll pick you up.
“Around five in the afternoon,” I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper. “I’ll… I’ll see
Too Late to Say Sorry
58.1%
Chapter 5
you then.” The moment I hung up, I turned and hurried back to the bus station, my footsteps echoing in the twilight. I just managed to catch the last bus back to the city, leaving the quiet town and its secrets behind me.
It was already eight o’clock in the evening when I finally arrived back in the city.
Exhausted, I checked into a hotel near my workplace. Later that night, as I tried to unwind, my mother’s message popped up on my phone. Julian, she said, had planned a hiking trip for them next weekend and had even gone so far as to buy them all new hiking gear. Pictures of the gear were attached.
Hiking?!
The word echoed in my mind, laced with a sudden sense of dread.
The recent news story about a murder on a hiking trail flashed through my mind, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in seemingly serene landscapes.
A cold dread gripped me. I had initially planned to wait a couple of days before revealing everything to my parents, but now, the urgency of the situation was overwhelming.
I couldn’t risk delaying any longer. With trembling fingers, I typed out a message, sending them the hotel address and pleading for them to meet me tomorrow.
