The Ocean’s City

I sat there fearfully stuck in my seat. It took one look from Dalton to see his eyes overflowed with emotions. Seconds passed with eerie silence, and then the sounds of an ambulance slowly broke through the soundless room. Quiet at first, then louder and louder.

Everyone listened as the owner greeted the ambulance, and they rushed over to the women. They check her heartbeat. Tried to shock her back a few times and then called the time of death and rolled her off. Dalton was behind them and followed them to the vehicle to take her away.

I sat in my chair, but after a moment, I also followed them outside. I walked out right as the vehicle drove away. I caught an uncensored glimpse of Dalton and he seemed distraught over the woman’s death. Then he turned to me and his mask was back on.

He put an arm around me. “Are you alright?” I shivered before I could speak and he instantly took off his jacket.

“Who was she?”

“Just a local girl. I only met her a few times.”

“She wasn’t supposed to die, was she?”

He stared sternly into my eyes, but he didn’t respond. Instead he said, “let’s get you home.”

The ride home was in complete silence and I was able to shower and go to bed completely undisturbed but my heart ached a little at sensing he was upset. The fear didn’t help me sleep. I knew deep down she wasn’t supposed to be dead. It was something out of his control.

The bed was empty and a note beside my pillow. Dalton had written that he had to go to work.

I skipped downstairs and searched the whole House to see if it was true. It was. Dalton was nowhere in sight. I went to get some water when there was a loud bang.

Scared, I went to the door to see that Dannie was there, knocking excitedly. I opened it, and she practically sang at me. “Get ready!!! We are going shopping!”

I hugged her. “How did you get here?” I asked, looking behind her for signs of Hutson.

He had to go to work. Dannie frowned, and I nearly scowled at her. I forgot I was mad at her for being stupid. “He gave me this and said I should take you shopping.” With a huge smile, she held up a credit card.

...

It felt illegal to be walking through the town without Dalton and Hutson. I felt oddly vulnerable. A part of me worried Dalton would disapprove.

We walked the strip of small shops, and every passerby greeted us by name. No one called us Dannie and Silvie. They called us Daniella and Silvestia.

Then, when we walked into our third shop, someone called me Mrs. Baxs, and that was when Dannie stopped blabbing her mouth to look down at my hand and notice the ring.

It suddenly felt three times heavier, and my mouth dried.

“No fucking way!!!” Dannie spoke in an excited tone that I really wish she didn’t have. She yanked at my hand. “What. Is. This?”

I scrunched my face and felt myself go flush. “Apparently, I am married. I agreed to wear the ring if he would sleep on the couch.”

Dannie squealed as if this was good news. “I don’t know why you would. I’d let the piece of hunk into bed with me. Silvie, what are you waiting for?”

“um…. how about my free will?”

Dannie waved a hand and tugged me to continue shopping.

Thanks for reading the tenth chapter of The Ocean’s City. Let me know what you think! Grammar Nazis are welcome!