"Mr. Thomas."
lanie looked up in surprise as the man stepped into the house with rushed movents. Who did that? For a mont, she’d thought a thief was breaking in. He stopped short at the sight of her, blinking as if he wasn’t expecting to see her there.
He stared at her for a beat, then let out a strained chuckle. "lody? You’re calling Mr. Thomas now? What happened to Father?"
lanie offered a tight, uncertain smile. "I don’t rember much these days... so calling you that feels strange. Formal. Distant. But... I could try, I suppose."
She tilted her head, examining him more closely. "I thought you’d left for the office already. Why are you back? You look—" she paused, frowning "...a bit pale. Is everything alright?"
He waved a dismissive hand but didn’t quite et her eyes. "Huh? Ah, yes, yes. I ca back because I forgot my dicine. Foolish of . And now-" he touched his temple and exhaled, "...now my blood pressure’s acting up. Fluctuating all over the place."
He moved toward the sideboard but then stopped again, rubbing his chest absently.
"Have you seen your mother?" he asked. "She might know where the dicine is. The one I usually keep in the car, it’s missing too. I checked the glovebox. Gone."
lanie shook her head slowly. "Mrs. Thomas went out a while ago. I don’t know where she went exactly. But if she keeps it sowhere inside, I can go look. Where does she usually store it?"
Richard Thomas wiped the sweat from his brow and pressed his palm briefly to the wall for support. "She... she keeps it in the study. I think. That’s where I last rember seeing her put it. But I have no idea were exactly. Could be in one of the drawers. Or maybe the cabinet. She’s always moving things around."
lanie stood straight at that and stared at the man with a narrowed gaze. He looked ready to keel over.
"Co on, sit down for a bit. Don’t push yourself like this," she said as she guided him toward the nearest chair by holding his elbow. "I’ll go and check the study. Just stay here. Catch your breath."
She waited until he sank into the chair before stepping back, her brows still furrowed as she glanced at his clammy hands. Sothing felt off.
But without thinking too much, she walked into the study and quickly started to check the table for dicine. Spotting none, she walked around the desk and started checking the drawers.
The top left drawer had so old files and a stapler. The one below it had pens, markers, and envelopes. Nothing useful. She moved to the other side and opened the top drawer. A calculator, a few coins, and so paperclips. Still nothing.
She crouched and checked the bottom drawer. This one had a stack of old receipts and so old phones and electronics. No sign of any dicine. She stood up and rubbed her hand on the side of her jeans, then reached for the last drawer in the middle.
It stuck a bit before opening and as she pulled harder, it opened suddenly, causing lanie to stumble back and hit the edge of the shelf behind her. She winced as her shoulder shuddered and then winced more when a photo fra shattered on the floor near her foot
lanie turned around with a curse under her breath.
She was about to crouch down and collect the pieces when her eyes caught sothing in the drawer she’d just opened. The dicine.
It was pushed to the back, but the label was visible. Without wasting another second, she grabbed the bottle and stood up straight. First she needed to get the dicine to the man then she would clean it up.
Ignoring the broken fra on the floor, she left the study and walked back to the living room.
Mr. Thomas was still seated. His shirt was damp around the collar, but he wasn’t slumped anymore. He looked up as she approached.
"Here. I found it," lanie said as she placed the dicine in his hand.
He nodded, breathing a little easier now. "Thanks, Mrl"
He opened the cap, took a tablet, and swallowed it dry. lanie watched as the tension slowly eased from his shoulders. He wasn’t sweating as much now. His hands still shook, but not like before.
"You alright now?"
He gave a small nod. "Better. I just needed the dicine. Thank you. lody..."
lanie didn’t respond. She looked at the man and knew he was about to say sothing but she interrupted him, "I’ll go clean up the study. I broke a fra when I bumped into the shelf."
"You’re hurt? What happened?" Richard Thomas asked quickly and lanie shook her head, "I’m fine. You should sit for a few more minutes.
She didn’t wait for a reply and walked back.
Inside the study, the fra still lay on the floor, broken glass scattered around it. lanie moved carefully as she crouched and started picking up the bigger shards first. She placed them aside on a sheet of paper, careful not to cut her fingers.
Once most of the glass was cleared, she reached for the photo itself. But as she lifted it, sothing strange happened. There were two photos stuck together.
On top was the picture, that Marianne had shown her, from one of the couple’s vacations. And seed untouched. But the other, the one that was stuck behind seed older. Carefully, she pulled the two photos apart, inadverently glancing at the photo.
In that mont, she stilled. This...Hurriedly, she pulled out her phone from her pocket and clicked a picture as she heard footsteps coming in from the outside. She placed the picture behind the couple’s photo again, and then placed it face down on the table. Just as she picked up the shards again, Richard Thomas’ voice jolted her,’ lody. There is no need to do that. Just ask the maid to co and clean..."
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