Chapter 18 - The Return of Summer Heat
By late afternoon, the Raleigh heat had climbed back into the mid-eighties, wrapping the city in a thick, humid embrace. I wrapped up my site visit, got into my sedan, and drove back toward the suburbs.
When I pulled into the driveway, the house stood bathed in the warm, amber glow of the setting sun. I walked through the front door, tossed my keys onto the kitchen island, and immediately changed into comfortable swim trunks and a t-shirt.
It was Thursday.
The exact day of the week that had once been dominated by deceit, secret text messages, and the calculated choreography of an affair.
May you like
I walked out to the backyard, carrying a cold glass of iced water. The pool water caught the fading light, rippling gently in the evening breeze. There were no wine glasses left beside the ledge. There was no second towel draped over the patio chair. There was only the pristine, sparkling water and the absolute, beautiful luxury of peace.
I set my glass down on the table, walked to the edge of the shallow end, and lowered myself into the water.
