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Creative Writing / "The House on Vinegar Street"
« Last post by Believe_N_Me on Today at 04:07:17 PM »Chapter One
Edward sat at his desk and typed a neutral response to the faceless username in the social chatroom where he was a regular for more than a decade. He didn't want to appear too interested but could tell that the woman - or at least he assumed the other user was a woman - took a fondness to him. She followed him around from forum to forum, posting smiling emojis and making one-line comments after his entries. She even initiated a private message asking for his counsel on a matter regarding her vehicle, since she was aware he knew a little something about auto mechanics. It was at that time that a client finally showed up to put her signature on some paperwork Edward had prepared days before. The woman insisted on coming to his office after he volunteered to conduct business at her house, but she was adamant that the in-laws be left alone. Everything was in order and no need to complicate the situation.
As the woman sat down in the chair, she remarked about the sunny weather outside and how she'd like to show gratitude by treating him to a bowl of pho. Edward smiled and said that she must've read his mind since he had been smelling the aroma of star anise stewing in beef broth all day. Unfortunately, he'd have to take a rain check because his pickle ball partner was anxiously waiting. The guy texted him three times already to strategize how they could beat the other team. Although disappointed, the woman lingered in his office by expressing interest in the game. She had never heard of pickle ball and in fact, disclosed that she had never been much of an athlete. Edward enthusiastical ly went into detail about the object of the game and demonstrated the techniques he used to strike the ball. His arm was swung way back when his cell phone rang. Edward was not interested in picking up the call and let it ring again, but the woman looked at the phone and he felt she'd think he was unprofessional for ignoring it.
The caller ID read "Mom", but the number actually belonged to Melissa. Edward knew that she'd keep calling and leave voicemails if he didn't answer.
"Hello," he said, controlling his tone to minimize any inflections. "I'm in a meeting."
"Sorry I forgot to be there," there was anxiety in Melissa's apology. "I can be there in five minutes."
"No need for that."
"I'll come right now."
With every second passing by, Melissa felt her body temperature rising. In her mind, she knew exactly where the woman would be sitting. She saw Edward leaning forward as he passed the paper for the woman to sign.
"Everything is fine." Edward's tone was to end the accusation and not one of reassurance.
"Well you need to take care of that leaning fence in the backyard. The neighbor's dog is getting through and trampling over the garden," Melissa said forcefully. She was both irritated that the neighbor's dog was trespassing and that she had forgotten about the woman coming to the office.
"Okay. I'll see to it," Edward said curtly and hung up before Melissa could get in a word.
What the woman witnessed was the cordial version of Edward and Melissa's phone interactions. Neither of them ever began a phone call with "hello" (unless in front of a guest to show propriety) and they never said "good-bye".
"Is it an urgent matter? Your mom sounded very stressed," the woman remarked. She had heard the angry inflections in Melissa's muffled voice.
"Oh, you saw that on my cell phone? My mom is upset about our neighbor's dog," Edward explained in a half-truth.
"You're a very good son to take care of your mother. Most men would have already married a wife to do that," said the woman.
"I'm close to my mother so I don't mind. She can also be difficult and I know things like that can drive a wedge in a marriage."
"You are very right about that Mr. Leighton," the woman agreed.
She sprang up from the chair, inciting Edward to mirror her. He walked her to the exit where they reached for the door at the same time and grazed hands. He paused and stared at her in silence, but the woman clutched her purse and hurried away.
Edward sat at his desk and typed a neutral response to the faceless username in the social chatroom where he was a regular for more than a decade. He didn't want to appear too interested but could tell that the woman - or at least he assumed the other user was a woman - took a fondness to him. She followed him around from forum to forum, posting smiling emojis and making one-line comments after his entries. She even initiated a private message asking for his counsel on a matter regarding her vehicle, since she was aware he knew a little something about auto mechanics. It was at that time that a client finally showed up to put her signature on some paperwork Edward had prepared days before. The woman insisted on coming to his office after he volunteered to conduct business at her house, but she was adamant that the in-laws be left alone. Everything was in order and no need to complicate the situation.
As the woman sat down in the chair, she remarked about the sunny weather outside and how she'd like to show gratitude by treating him to a bowl of pho. Edward smiled and said that she must've read his mind since he had been smelling the aroma of star anise stewing in beef broth all day. Unfortunately, he'd have to take a rain check because his pickle ball partner was anxiously waiting. The guy texted him three times already to strategize how they could beat the other team. Although disappointed, the woman lingered in his office by expressing interest in the game. She had never heard of pickle ball and in fact, disclosed that she had never been much of an athlete. Edward enthusiastical ly went into detail about the object of the game and demonstrated the techniques he used to strike the ball. His arm was swung way back when his cell phone rang. Edward was not interested in picking up the call and let it ring again, but the woman looked at the phone and he felt she'd think he was unprofessional for ignoring it.
The caller ID read "Mom", but the number actually belonged to Melissa. Edward knew that she'd keep calling and leave voicemails if he didn't answer.
"Hello," he said, controlling his tone to minimize any inflections. "I'm in a meeting."
"Sorry I forgot to be there," there was anxiety in Melissa's apology. "I can be there in five minutes."
"No need for that."
"I'll come right now."
With every second passing by, Melissa felt her body temperature rising. In her mind, she knew exactly where the woman would be sitting. She saw Edward leaning forward as he passed the paper for the woman to sign.
"Everything is fine." Edward's tone was to end the accusation and not one of reassurance.
"Well you need to take care of that leaning fence in the backyard. The neighbor's dog is getting through and trampling over the garden," Melissa said forcefully. She was both irritated that the neighbor's dog was trespassing and that she had forgotten about the woman coming to the office.
"Okay. I'll see to it," Edward said curtly and hung up before Melissa could get in a word.
What the woman witnessed was the cordial version of Edward and Melissa's phone interactions. Neither of them ever began a phone call with "hello" (unless in front of a guest to show propriety) and they never said "good-bye".
"Is it an urgent matter? Your mom sounded very stressed," the woman remarked. She had heard the angry inflections in Melissa's muffled voice.
"Oh, you saw that on my cell phone? My mom is upset about our neighbor's dog," Edward explained in a half-truth.
"You're a very good son to take care of your mother. Most men would have already married a wife to do that," said the woman.
"I'm close to my mother so I don't mind. She can also be difficult and I know things like that can drive a wedge in a marriage."
"You are very right about that Mr. Leighton," the woman agreed.
She sprang up from the chair, inciting Edward to mirror her. He walked her to the exit where they reached for the door at the same time and grazed hands. He paused and stared at her in silence, but the woman clutched her purse and hurried away.
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