Isaiah left at noon.

Karen watched from the window in the bedroom, as the long, sleek car pulled up in the driveway. She looked down on him walking from the house in his burgundy suit, his hair loose over his shoulders, dark glasses shielding his eyes; he didn‟t look up. He dropped out of sight into the back of the car and the door closed. Turning back to the bed that had been her haven for the last two days, Karen fell onto the mattress and listened to the silence.

***

Pulling a pillow over her head to block the sound of the ringing phone, Karen tried to avoid looking around the room. Waking slowly in the darkness that had settled in, the only sound coming from the persistent phone, she cursed the intrusion. She rolled slowly, with resignation, realizing there would be no one else there to answer it. Bobby was at a friend‟s house. Mona had taken the night off. Alex was gone for the day. Izzy was gone. And the phone insisted on an answer. *** Karen showered quickly then ran about the room pulling on her jeans and shirt. Grabbing her shoes and running for the door she stumbled and swore. Slamming the door she flew down the hall. Of all things, she muttered, running down the stairs and pulling her hair into a ponytail, wrapping it behind her with a band as she ran. She looked quickly into the kitchen to see if there were anybody around, knowing there wouldn‟t be, wanting company now more than ever.