Chapter 3: Rising Action
It hadn't been easy, coming back home.
The chaos of Mrs. Mitcham's house slammed into me as soon as I pushed open the door. Damn. I was used to a different level of order—or did I just tell myself that to justify leaving home for a few years?
Oh, right. The new tenant. My HOPEFUL new tenant, Mrs. Mitcham had gushed when she called to tell me about a lovely lady who'd be moving into my childhood home.
I tried to imagine the kind of person that would pique my old landlady's interest. There were many options, but I never expected Dee.
I found her ensconced in my old room, surrounded by stacks of unopened mail and an explosion of clothes, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulders as she rummaged through the piles. Feminine clothing was draped over stained bedsheets, and a backpack-sized purse sat on a dresser, open with its contents spilling out.
"Joss!" She said, looking up from the chaotic mess with a radiant smile. "I was poking around and found that old photo album from your childhood. I thought I might get a taste of who I'm living with."
Her voice, just like her appearance, was unexpected. Strong yet soothing, with the slight rasp of many late nights and the promise of secrets whispering at the edge of every sentence.
"Uh, yeah, sure." I dropped my gaze to the photo album clutched in her hands.