Later in the evening, Claire walked out of her bedroom wearing comfortable shorts and a loose t-shirt.
The small apartment felt warm and familiar after the long day.
Her body was tired and her voice felt a little strained from talking to the children all day.
Still she was glad the first day was over.
Her class had been a handful but she had expected that much.
At least, none of the children had given her any serious trouble.
Ruby was luckier.
She had older children and from what Claire had seen that morning, her first day seemed to have gone much better.
“Hey,” Ruby called from the kitchen.
“I’m making vegetable stir-fry, but we’re out of carrots and those special noodles you like.”
Claire walked over to the kitchen entrance, leaning against the doorframe.
Ruby was already busy at the stove and she was moving around the kitchen as if she hadn’t spent the whole day teaching.
“You look too energetic for someone who just finished her first day,” Claire said.
Ruby turned around with a grin.
“Of course I am.
My students were lovely.”
Claire smiled.
She had a feeling Ruby was going to say that no matter what happened.
Ruby grabbed her purse from the counter.
“Well, I was planning to cook, but since we’re missing ingredients, someone needs to make a store run.”
Claire nodded.
“I was planning to go grocery shopping tomorrow anyway.
I might as well go now.”
“Perfect!” Ruby handed her some cash.
“Don’t forget to get the good noodles this time, not those cheap ones.”
Claire rolled her eyes but took the money.
“I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”
The evening air was cooler than she expected and she wished she had worn something warmer than shorts and a t-shirt.
As Claire stepped out of their apartment building, she noticed a silver car parked directly in front of it.
The car looked expensive and completely out of place in their modest neighborhood.
Its windows were tinted, making it difficult to see inside, but Claire thought she caught a glimpse of someone sitting in the driver’s seat.
She slowed for a moment and looked at the car again.
Maybe they were waiting for someone.
She shook off the thought and continued toward the grocery store deciding not to think too much about it.
The neighborhood store was only a few blocks away.
As Claire was picking out carrots, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the beautiful Claire.”
Claire turned to see a familiar man who lives across the street.
He was a middle-aged man who always seemed to have a different woman with him each week.
She’d noticed him watching her before.
“Good evening,” she greeted politely turning back to the vegetables.
“Let me get those for you,” he offered as he reached for the carrots.
“No, thank you,” Claire said firmly but politely.
“I can manage.”
“Are you sure?” he pressed, his hand brushing against hers in what seemed to be intentional as she reached for a bag.
“A pretty lady like you shouldn’t have to carry her own groceries.”
“I’m sure,” Claire said, moving away slightly.
“Goodnight, Mr.”
She quickly paid for her items and left the store feeling a little disgusted by the way the man had spoken to her.
She was glad to be away from him.
As she stepped outside, she suddenly stopped.
A silver car.
It was parked near the front of the supermarket and Claire immediately recognized it as the same car she had seen earlier in front of their apartment building.
Her brows furrowed as she looked at it.
For a moment, she wondered if someone was watching her.
But that didn’t make sense.
It wasn’t like there was only one silver car in the city.
Several people could own the same kind of car.
Or maybe it was just a coincidence.
Still she couldn’t completely ignore the uneasy feeling in her chest.
She had heard about a few abduction cases in the area that week even though their neighborhood was usually known to be peaceful.
Claire tightened her grip on the grocery bag and started walking home.
After a few minutes, she glanced back.
The silver car was still where she had seen it parked in front of the supermarket.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief and turned back around.
Maybe she really had been overthinking it.
She continued walking keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
She was almost halfway home when a faint sound reached her ears.
She slowed down and looked back only to see a car moving down the street behind her slowly making its way in her direction.
Her eyes widened as she realized it was the same silver car.
Claire didn’t care about dignity anymore.
She broke into a near run not daring to look back until she reached the entrance to her building.
Once inside, she peered through the peephole and watched as the car passed by, slowing down noticeably in front of their building before continuing down the street.
By the time she reached their third-floor apartment, her heart was still pounding.
Ruby was in the kitchen washing dishes when she walked in.
“Someone is following me,” Claire said, placing the groceries on the counter.
Ruby turned around with a smile on her face.
“What?
Did the ladies’ man from across the street finally work up the nerve to ask you out?”
“No, not him,” Claire shook her head.
“There was this silver car.
It was parked in front of our building when I left, and I saw it again near the store.
Then it followed me home.”
Ruby’s expression softened a little.
“Honey, you’re probably imagining things.
Maybe somebody saw you and thought you were cute.
You know how it is.
Pretty girl, new job, mysterious little life.
Someone’s bound to notice.”
Claire sighed.
“I don’t know.
It felt…
different.”
“Okay, okay.” Ruby gave her a quick look before turning back to the sink.
“If the creepy car shows up again, we’ll worry about it.
Until then, I’m choosing to believe you have a secret admirer.”
She picked up the knife and pointed it at Claire.
“Now come help me cook before I end up feeding us burnt food.
I have enough problems without being arrested for murder.”
As Claire put away the groceries, Ruby’s phone started ringing from the living room.
She dried her hands and went to check it.
“Oh no, I’m doomed.” She called out.
“It’s Ryan.
I saw his missed call at school and completely forgot to call him back.
What am I supposed to tell him now?”