No Longer Mrs. Cooley: The Architect's Return

take her to the Cooley apartment. She

r building loomed above her, its limestone facade illuminated by soft

he saw her. "Mrs. Cooley! We didn

he pressed a hundred-dollar bill into his ha

d. "Underst

h watched the floor numbers climb, her heart be

uld hear music coming from inside. Soft jazz. Mi

ked the d

The apartment smelled of b

entryway rug, sat a pair of red-

ylee's birthday last month. Brylee had cried, huggi

She moved silently across the Pe

oming from the master bedroom. The door was ajar,

red through

ss shirt. Brylee was sitting on the edge of the mattress-Haleigh's mattress-we

of milk. "Drink this. It's

u're going to be such a good dad, Gray

ess. It was one thing to know

her purse and pulled out her heavy keychain. She

roppe

JINGLE

explosive in t

edroom, ch

was a harsh whisper

ylee sounded frantic. Glass

Just

t down, picked up her keys, and started h

out, her voice pitching up i

edroom, her footsteps d

ed the d

His shirt was half-unbuttoned, his hair messy. T

ylee w

rumpled. The balcony doors were closed

t. The handle was vibrating slightly

rrified, a rictus of panic. Sweat beaded on

around his waist. She could feel his heart h

ed her face in his neck, inhaling d

as just trying out a

e air theatrically. "And is that

ooking for a gift for you. I must have spra

p. She turned toward the close

ep toward the

d, blockin

t's... it's a mess in there. I haven't wrapp

oor. She imagined Brylee in there, huddled

Haleigh's lips, gone b

the surprise. I'm exhausted anyway. I think

the bed, right where Brylee

e, Gray," she pa

then at Haleigh. He looked

ey," he sa