The Wife He Thought He Buried

hange while Mary finished putting away

Derby?" M

s very

e i

her warm voice and easy manner. There was something about her that

emembered the photograp

um

es

ure. The one I saw i

at her. "Wha

is his

ion remained c

re

y Ki

ed strangely i

r

name made the memory of the

y's son?" C

es

question that had been bothering

an eyebrow.

otograph.

r for a second be

iled. "No. T

linked.

es

l. The woman she had met that day had been wearing a light veil that

d," she w

hed softl

t she was

d. "Grey's wife was Grace.

O

embarrassed by how quickly

wasn't

f information made her feel strange

fa

been foolish for

he had school during the week, Saturday had become her usual day for he

the house comfortably, dusting, sweeping, wiping surfaces, and helping with the

home. The polished floors, large windows, expensive furniture, carefully arranged de

ucket through the sitting room when he

r

stop

have. She knew

looked

name. Maybe it was because he had been unexpectedly kind to her that rainy afternoon. Or maybe it was simply because she fou

interested in

jumped. She t

ps away, watching her

..

ned. "Should I int

immediately g

hy are you staring at

n't st

u w

just lo

cour

d her eyes,

the photograph. "Grey has always ha

't know wh

ed at her

wh

u like

ve denied it. Instead, she ga

't kno

sn't my

the photograph a

stop

y wa

lped m

he

l. It was

oftened with curiosi

le were bothering me. He

draw

and said th

. "That soun

er him." There was a quietness in her voice now. "I don't know him.

ied her fo

t's not like I'm in lov

t say yo

kno

embarr

a

ain. Chloe smile

tion. A little admiration. A tiny bit of hope that p

ing

cleaning things.

Derby said, s

y, trying very h

ailed

't with him when he entered the main part of the house. She had gone to

oticed a young woman ahead of him, wal

slo

place it, but the feeling came suddenly: a flash of rain, a university building,

ows drew

ave I s

corner. Grey stared after her for another second, then shook the th

inued w

ly carrying it across the tiled area, both hands gripping the handle as she concentrated on keeping it balanced. T

pletely foc

he walked. He paused briefly, rubbing his forehead as he read someth

Grey approached from the opposite d

he soapy water from spilling over her clothes. Grey gl

ssed ea

already moving toward the pool. Neither of them r

s and headed back inside. She heard footsteps approach

ssed doorway to give the person enough room to pass. She lowered her

t the same moment. He saw the young cleaner s

something stirred

Drawings scattered

between them. Grey continued down the hallway. Chloe remained wh

how close t

e sun had begun to soften outside. She sai

ped outside, she re

ntroduce y

er face briefly with one hand. She could

arrassment was a sm

been close enough to him to know that the strange little feelin

herself as s

come of it. Maybe she w

llowed herself tha

ost met three times that day had already