Chapter 5 - The Surveillance
Allison arrived at Evelyn’s house the following morning at eight-thirty without knocking. The front door unlocked with Allison's spare key, and the heavy thud of her designer boots echoed through the hallway.
Evelyn was in the kitchen, slicing a grapefruit at the marble island. She was wearing her comfortable floral robe, but her mind was already drifting toward the evening—wondering what she should wear to the bistro Daniel had suggested by the canal.
""We need to talk, Mom,"" Allison announced, dropping her heavy leather tote bag onto the kitchen table with a resounding thud.
Evelyn set down the paring knife. She didn't like the tremor in Allison's voice, nor the manic, triumphant glint in her daughter's eyes. ""Good morning to you, too, Allison. Coffee?""
""I don't want coffee. I want to know who he is.""
Evelyn didn't move. ""Who who is?""
Allison snatched her smartphone from her pocket, tapped the screen with trembling fingers, and shoved the device inches from Evelyn’s face. On the glowing screen was a video clip. It showed the exterior of the Franklin Arts Center under the yellow glare of the streetlights. Evelyn could see herself, wearing the red dress beneath her open coat, laughing as Daniel opened her car door. In the video, Daniel leaned down, touched Evelyn's shoulder, and smiled with an unmistakable tenderness before Evelyn drove away.
Evelyn felt a cold, burning rage ignite behind her ribs. ""Were you following me?""
""I knew it!"" Allison shrieked, pulling the phone back and holding it like an indictment. ""I knew something was wrong! You've been distant, you refused to watch Mark’s kids, you're buying expensive clothes, and now you're sneaking around parking lots in the middle of the night with some random stranger!""
""I am sixty-two years old!"" Evelyn shouted, her voice echoing off the kitchen tiles with a power Allison had never heard before. ""I do not sneak! I took a dance class, and a gentleman walked me to my car! How dare you stalk me like a criminal?""
""He is a stranger, Mom! You don't know who he is! Do you know how many elderly women get preyed upon by con artists? Men who target wealthy widows, sweet-talk them, get their names on deeds, and bleed their accounts dry?""
""Elderly?"" Evelyn scoffed, her eyes blazing. ""I run five miles three times a week. I manage my own investments. I am not an elderly victim waiting to be rescued by you!""
""You're being reckless because you miss Dad!"" Allison yelled, tears springing to her eyes. ""You're trying to replace him! How do you think Mark and I feel seeing some strange man touching you where Dad used to stand? It’s disrespectful to his memory!""
The room went dead silent. The ticking of the grandfather clock in the dining room sounded like gunshot cracks in the stillness.
Evelyn took a single step toward her daughter. Her posture was so rigid, her gaze so fiercely focused, that Allison involuntarily took a step backward toward the pantry.
""Do not ever use your father's memory as a weapon against my happiness,"" Evelyn said, her voice dropping to a deadly, quiet register. ""Peter loved me. He loved me for thirty-four years. And if Peter were standing in this kitchen right now, he would be appalled by the way you treat me. Your father wanted me to live, Allison. He did not ask me to be buried in the ground next to him.""
Allison’s jaw worked silently, her face alternating between fury and shock. ""You're going to regret this, Mom. If you think this man is going to be welcomed into our family, you are completely out of your mind.""
""Get out of my house,"" Evelyn said quietly.
""Mom—""
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""Get out, Allison. And leave your key on the counter.""
Allison stared at her mother, completely stunned. With trembling hands, she unclipped the brass house key from her ring, slammed it onto the granite counter, and stormed out the front door, leaving the house shaking behind her.
