Read Online Curiosity Killed the Kat by Elizabeth Nelson - Free Book Online Page B

kitchen and smiled at me sadly.
    “Call me Cecelia honey.” She said gently. “How are you holding up? I’m making you some scrambled eggs.”
    “Thank you, but I’d like to go home. Next door I mean. Do you have a spare key you can give me?”
    For some reason I didn’t want to tell her about Sandra. I knew we weren’t in danger from this kind woman, but my instincts were telling me not to bring her into this situation, if only for her own protection. The less people that knew what was going on, the better.
    “Of course honey. The house is yours now, after all. And being in her space will help you feel closer to your mother right now.”
    She turned to get the spare key and I slowly stood up, straightening my clothes and hair and rubbing the last few tears out of my eyes.
    “Can I get you some water or anything first? Do you want me to come with you?” Cecelia was eager to help and I could see that she was worried about me.
    “No, no. Thank you.” I tried my best to reassure her. “I just want to go home for now. I know she’d want your input on her funeral arrangements, so maybe we can discuss all those details tomorrow?”
    “Of course Katherine. Whatever you want. I’ll take care of everything and you’ll let me know what you like, okay? I’m here for you honey, don’t worry.”
    I smiled and thanked her and started to make my way to the door. Sandra must be frantic by now, if she hadn’t already driven off in a panic. I had to get her out of the car and into the safety of the house.
    Clutching the key to my mother’s house in my hand, I stepped outside onto the porch and the cool night air. The chill revived me a little and helped to clear my head. I looked to the street and was relieved to see the Rover still where I’d parked it. I didn’t see Sandra, but it was dark and I thought it would be hard to see her face from Mrs. Foote’s porch.
    With a last hug and a promise to talk in the morning, Cecelia wiped her eyes and shut the door behind me. I walked quickly to the car, torn between praying that Sandra was still there and hoping she wasn’t.
    When I approached the passenger door I looked in and saw Sandra asleep against the driver’s seat. Knocking softly on the window, I could see her awaken with a start and look over in fear. When she saw it was me she looked relieved and quickly sat up and opened the door.
    “What happened?” She demanded as she got out of the car, “I thought you had left me or something was wrong!”
    “Shhhh…” I tried to quiet her before Cecelia heard her voice and came back out to see what was happening.
    “I’ll tell you inside. Follow me.”
    We walked as silently as we could toward my mother’s dark porch. Beside me I could see Sandra glancing nervously around, aware that we were still in danger.
    Letting ourselves into the house I switched on the lights and made sure the blinds were tightly closed against the dark outside.
    For a moment I allowed myself to just stand in the living room and remember how I felt growing up here. I hadn’t been home in years and to stand here now, when my whole life had changed in the span of a day, made me feel like a stranger to this house. I was ashamed of the girl I had been when I lived here as a child. What kind of girl throws her self-respect away for her husband? Why had I wanted that kind of life more than anything else?
    But those thoughts were pointless and a waste of time and energy. The situation was what it was and all I could do now was try and make it right, for myself and for Sandra.
    I turned and saw her slumped on the living room chair, staring glumly at the walls, clutching her bag.
    “Sandra, why don’t you try and get some sleep? You can use my old room. It’s down the hall, the last door on the right.” I pointed the direction and wordlessly she got up and left.
    I could hear the door shut and the heavy squeal of the dresser being dragged across the floor. I guessed she was barricading herself in