A local woman missing- Mary Kubica

knowing that one day my daughter would grow up, go to college and
discover handsome, charming, smooth-talking boys like Marty
Hanaka, the kind you could never say no to.
I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted someone more like Josh for
Delilah: sturdy, honest, dependable.
When, ten months ago, Cassandra and Marty moved into the
house across the street from ours, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Marty
isn’t one for social media. It’s not like we were Facebook friends. He
isn’t on Facebook at all. He could have been dead and I wouldn’t
have known.
By the time he moved across the street, he had a master’s degree
and was working as a market research analyst in Chicago. He was
no longer twenty-two. Now he was thirty-six, married, with two kids.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” I say.
“You’re never a bother,” he says. He smiles. Marty has a way of
putting me at ease. He’s still just as handsome and charming as he’s
always been. Sometimes when we speak, it’s like fourteen years
hasn’t passed since I last saw him. “What can I do for you?”
“Is Cassandra home?” I ask, looking past him. There is noise and
activity deeper inside the house.
“She was out shopping,” Marty says, “but I think I just heard her
come in the back door. Let me see,” he says, but he doesn’t need to.
“Oh, Meredith,” Cassandra says, suddenly appearing in the
doorway from the kitchen. She wears a coat, but her cheeks are
pink. Forty degrees and gray is much more appropriate for this time
of year than the weather we’ve been having. Still, it comes as a blow.
One step forward, two steps back. Everyone hates it, our eternal
winter.
Cassandra takes a look at the kids and knows exactly why I’m
here. “I didn’t know you were stopping by,” she says. “I’ve been out
running errands. Just popped back in for a minute because I forgot a
return,” as she makes her way to a coat closet, opens the door and
draws out a shopping bag.
Marty looks incredulous. “You’re heading back out?” he asks. He
looks at his watch. “I thought you’d be done by now. I told you, I
need to go to the gym.” I’m embarrassed to be witness to their tiff.