Chapter 10: The Delivery
325 words
I didn't sleep. I sat by the garage window, watching the street through the slats of the blinds. At 7:45 AM, the white FedEx truck rumbled around the corner.
My heart leaped into my throat. Richard was in the shower—I could hear the pipes rattling. Tiffany was still asleep, likely dreaming of spending money she didn't have.
I slipped out the side door, moving like a ghost across the wet lawn. The driver was just stepping out with a flat, rigid envelope.
"Sign here," he said, holding out the tablet.
I scribbled a shaky line, grabbed the envelope, and tucked it under my sweater just as the front door opened.
I froze. But it wasn't Richard. It was the wind slamming the screen door against the frame.
I scrambled back into the garage, my heart beating like a trapped bird. I couldn't open it yet. Richard would be out of the shower any second. I looked for a hiding spot. The boxes? No, he might rummage through them.
I grabbed my pillow—the lumpy one I’d been using on the floor—and unzipped the case. I slid the stiff envelope inside, beneath the foam, and smoothed it over.
The door from the kitchen swung open. Tiffany stood there, wearing a silk robe that was too tight, holding a mug of coffee.
"Ugh, it smells like mold in here," she wrinkled her nose. She looked around, her eyes landing on my bedding. " actually, I need some extra padding for my back. The mattress in the master is too firm."
She walked straight toward my makeshift bed. "Is that a memory foam pillow?"
"No!" I shouted, jumping in front of her. "It's... it's full of dust mites. You’ll have an allergy attack. It's old."
Tiffany stopped, her hand hovering inches from the pillowcase hiding millions of dollars. She recoiled, looking at me with disgust.
"Gross," she sneered. "Keep your filth. Just make me some pancakes."
End of Chapter 10
