Independence

Calvin nodded without hesitation. “Yeah, I keep in touch with Miranda often. Why, what’s the issue?”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Zach narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he could see through everything. “I know what you’re trying to figure

out.”

“Whether it’s Cal keeping in touch with Miranda or me stepping in to help her today, you have doubts in your mind. Are we doing it because of our connection to you, or is it because of Miranda herself?”

Zach paused for a moment before continuing, “I can tell you clearly–it’s because of Miranda herself. It has nothing to do with you. I’m sure Calvin would say the same.”

Hansel frowned. “Why?”

Zach smirked, “Isn’t it just about building connections between people? You give, and you take; that’s how relationships are formed.

“You think Miranda was just a shadow during those six years? We hung out two or three times a month, at the very least, right? We had plenty of chances to interact with her.

Take Calvin, for instance. If I remember correctly, Miranda helped you fix your computer once. She even wrote some code for you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, yeah!” Calvin nodded vigorously, “Miranda’s amazing at programming. There was that time when I nearly lost a project investment because someone was messing with the finances. Miranda wrote an automated accounting program and helped me sort through that mess.”

“And that time when…”

Calvin went on and on, but the more Hansel listened, the more lost he felt.

The “Miranda” they were describing–someone skilled, resourceful, and involved–seemed worlds apart from the Miranda he knew, who stayed home every day. The woman who would wait for him to return from work and handle every little detail of his life.

Calvin continued, “And you’re giving me grief, but didn’t Miranda help you out on that-

Zach quickly cut him off, “Alright, that’s enough. I’m out of here. You guys should head back soon, too.”

With that, he darted into a cab.

“Let’s go, sir. Quick.”

Miranda received the contact details Zach sent her. She opened it and pressed add contact, and it triggered an automated response almost immediately

“Hello, if you’re an author, please leave your submission and contact information. If you are a partner and it’s urgent, please call 1372324…”

Miranda thought for a moment, then followed the instructions. She sent one of Mindy’s suspense novels from last year as a Word document along with her phone number.

Since it was quite late, she didn’t receive a response and didn’t think much of it, figuring she might hear

back in a few days.

The night deepened, and Hansel returned home. As expected, Ingrid was standing at the door, smiling like a hostess. He couldn’t help but admire her persistence.

Ingrid reached out to help him, but even before touching him, she was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol on him. Hansel called Martha over to assist him upstairs.

Although he had only had two drinks and wasn’t really drunk, pretending to be drunk kept Ingrid from clinging to

him and pestering him with her usual chatter. So, acting drunk seemed like the better option.

Martha quickly helped him up to the master bedroom before heading back down to prepare a hangover remedy.

“Martha, I heard you’ve known Hansel since he was little?” Dressed in her nightgown, Ingrid stood in the kitchen while smiling as she tried to strike up a conversation with Martha..

“Do you need something, Ms. York? The kitchen isn’t safe. It would be better if you went to the living room. or back to the bedroom to rest.”

Anything to keep her from prattling on and on–Marti Jund her chatter unbearable!

Ingrid seemed to ignore her and kept her smile. “So, you must have made hangover remedy for him often?

Martha replied, “Not that often. When Ms. Sutton was still around, she handled all that. Mr. Johnson preferred her cooking.”

Ingrid fell silent for a moment. Then, seizing the moment when Martha turned to grab a bowl, she quickly poured the powder she had been holding into the pot.