He grimaced as the window's automatic motor groaned and slowly came to life. This was yet another indication of how his life had changed. Gone were the days of the luxury sedan with heated leather seats. The used car that only sometimes started on the cold Wisconsin mornings was the best he could do under the circumstances. He'd truly lost everything – his family, his home, and every luxury that he'd come to appreciate. There was nothing to be gained from this practice, this sort of masochistic way of dreaming of better days, but it still didn't keep him away.
The air was cold as it rushed into the now open window, but he didn't mind. It gave him a clear view of the house he loved so much. There was a new car in the driveway, one he hadn't seen there before and he couldn't help but wonder if someone else was now occupying the sacred space. He could see the light on in the window, the one he knew to be the bedroom – their bedroom. Gwen had loved that space. Her entire face had lit up when she'd walked into the room and seen it in person. The fireplace, complete with gas logs, had been something she'd always dreamed of, and he'd made certain it was built exactly to her specifications. The tufted headboard had been a surprise that he'd seen her eyeing in a catalog but, even knowing they could afford it, she'd been reluctant to choose. But even with all the beautiful accoutrements, it was the antique floor lamp she loved most of all … the one he now saw being carried down the steps.
Phyllis sat the lamp down beside her car as she quickly popped the trunk. She shook her head as she lifted the cardboard boxes into the trunk. Leave it to a man to think this was okay, she thought to herself. She'd known that Nick had purchased this house as a foreclosure. Many of the larger items, things that were considered to be of value, had been cleared out and auctioned off long before he took ownership, but there were some things, things like clothes, and pictures, and lamps that remained. These items had been boxed up by the decorators and left in the closets for Nick to 'deal with'. She closed the trunk before opening the back door and sliding in the lamp. This was how she would be dealing with it. There was something strange about living in a house with someone else's stuff inside. She didn't feel right about it and she knew Nick wouldn't mind. If she hurried, she could make it to Goodwill before they closed.
Cameron watched her intently, his eyes following her every move. He watched her as she closed the door of the car and rushed back into the house. He watched her as he reached down for the black duffel bag and gripped it in his now trembling hands and stepped out into the cold night air. He barely heard his own car door shut behind him, the sound of his own heart pounding drowning out the sound of anything and everything else. His body stood, pressed against the darkened corner of the garage as he watched her return to the car and slide into the driver's seat. She had what he once did, the luxurious life, the house … what should have been his and she didn't even appreciate it. It was in boxes, as if it was garbage. He was silent, like an intruder … in his own house and he remained that way until she backed out of the garage and the door slowly closed down.
Cameron felt the breath finally leave his body and he looked up towards the door, thankful to see she hadn't bolted it behind her. He knew this kind of complacency, the comfortable feeling that came with thinking your life was exactly as it should be. He used to feel that way too, used to believe that everything was perfect and that nothing bad could happen. He knew better know and she should too. He gripped the handle of the duffel bag tighter, the smell of the gasoline wafting up through the night air and into his nose. He climbed the few steps to the door slowly before turning the knob and stepping inside.
She pulled back into the garage and reached around to undo the seatbelt. The darkened car was suddenly with light and she smiled as she saw Nick's name flash across her phone. "Tell me you're on your way home," she cooed in lieu of a greeting.
He smiled at the sound of her voice as he walked quickly through the parking lot. "Sexy and prophetic," he grinned. "I'm on my way to the car right now. I just thought I'd call and see if you wanted me to pick anything up on the way. Have you eaten?"
"Not really," she admitted. She'd been too busy working on ridding the home of the tainted memories of a couple that hadn't ended so well to think about food. "But honestly, I'm not that hungry …" She felt her lips curve into another sneaky smile, "Not for food anyway." She heard his breath on the other side of the line and grinned wider.
"Well, maybe for afterwards," he laughed. "I can pick up something if you want. Any requests."
"Surprise me." She stepped up the steps and paused, sniffing the air for a moment.
"What's that noise?" Nick sat still as he began to back out of the empty Dark Horse parking lot. "You're not getting sick on me, are you?"
"No. I just …" She sniffed again, trying to place the strange odor. "It's a weird smell in the garage almost like …" She thought before finally arriving at the conclusion … "Gas."
"That's strange." Nick paused for a moment. "Well, if you can smell it, it's probably okay. All the deadly stuff is supposed to be odorless, right?"
She laughed a bit in spite of herself. "Well that's … comforting I guess."
He heard the slight hint of concern in her voice. "Hey, I don't have to stop if you really think there might be something up. I can be there in ten minutes."
"No. No. I'm sure it's nothing. I probably accidently splashed some gas on my shoes or something the other day when I filled up. I'm sure that's what it is. Grab something for us to eat on your way. I plan on working up quite the appetite later."
She ended the call just before opening the door. She reached over and dropped her keys. They should have gone into the small bowl, the one that sat on the table – the table she'd placed by the door for that specific purpose. Her eyes moved to the floor where they keys now lay. The table was no longer there. She turned towards the den, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of it. Her footsteps were hesitant as she moved into the room. The warmth of the burning fireplace normally soothed her, but tonight, it filled her with dread. She hadn't left it on. Someone was here … in this house … with her.
And she had no idea who it was.