Daydream -Blink

Amelia stood by the kitchen sink, staring blankly at the marble counter. A warm, fuzzy buzz hummed beneath her skin.

Just then, the heavy, unmistakable slam of a patrol car door echoed through the front window.

Marcus was home. Amelia checked on her phone in panic 4:16 PM.

Why did he come so soon? Marcus said he'll be on shift till 12 AM. She moved towards the front door but just then she remembered something important.

My panties. They were still tangled in a pile on the master bedroom floor.

"Oh no!"

She sprinted down the hallway. Her bare feet slapped frantically against the hardwood floors.

Keys jingled loudly on the front porch.

She dove into the bedroom, snatched the delicate lace from the carpet, and shoved her legs through the holes. She yanked the silky material up over her thighs and snapped it securely against her waist just as the front deadbolt clicked open.

Amelia smoothed her floral sundress, **** her racing heart to slow, and walked out into the hallway with a bright, flawless smile.

Marcus's massive frame stepped inside. He looked exhausted in his dark uniform.

"Hey babe, what's that boy doing?" He asked, tossing his keys into the bowl and headed straight for the counter in the living room. Amelia followed him, her cheeks still burning with residual adrenaline.

"He's probably studying in his room." she said.

Marcus went to the kitchen to fill a glass from the tap and drank it down in three huge gulps. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, turning his intense, dark gaze toward her.

"Everything okay?" he grunted. "You look flushed."

"I-it's nothing baby, it must be because I was just doing some Pilates just now," she smiled sweetly, stepping into his arms.

"In those clothes?" he asked casually while taking another sip of water.

"O-oh, it's just- I was just.. I forgot." She spoke out, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Wear proper clothing, Amelia, you're such a stupid woman sometimes," He said with a light smile, not at all suspecting her. After all, she had never in their 20 years of marriage ever lied to him before about even something trivial.

Amelia took a deep breath to calm down and asked. "Did you get off work early? You said your shift would be till 12 AM"

"No, I was cruising through our sector and just stopped for a bit. I'm going back to my duty now." He leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. Amelia kept her mouth perfectly still, terrified he might somehow taste Samuel on her breath.

Marcus pulled back, letting out a heavy sigh. "Listen. I ran that neighbor's name through the secure registry at the station. Samuel Von Eldorado."

Amelia's breath hitched in her throat.

"Everything checks out perfectly," Marcus admitted, his tone gruff but resigned. "Retired fleet mechanic. Dead brother was a Chicago patrolman. I was way too hard on the old man this morning. I'll invite him for some beers some time."

Amelia’s heart soared. Samuel told the truth! Marcus completely trusted him now, officially stripping away the last remaining shred of her guilt.

"Didn't I say so, honey? You just think everyone's a criminal because everyone around you is, but in reality most of the people are really kind." she cooed, patting his thick chest affectionately.

"Yeah, well. Keep the doors locked. I'm heading back out to finish my route." He gave her waist a quick, firm squeeze and headed right back out the front door.

The moment the cruiser pulled away, pure joy bubbled up inside Amelia. She remembered Samuel's words, that lying is not a bad thing if it can bring everyone happiness. Just by lying a little to Marcus, she had made such a 'fun' friend, her husband had apologized for the first time for his nature. And she even got to hear so many interesting stories and not just pass the time watching TV. She felt truly alive for the first time in years.

Now she just needed to secure the final loose end.

She climbed the stairs and knocked softly on Liam's bedroom door. "Honey? Can I come in?"

"Yeah, Mom," a muffled voice replied.

Amelia opened the door. Liam sat hunched over his desk. At six-foot-five, he was built like a professional linebacker, carrying his father's broad shoulders and thick chest. But his posture remained entirely defensive. His shoulders curled inward, and his eyes stayed glued to his computer monitor. Amelia had pampered him his entire life, sheltering him from the harsh world and Marcus, just like Marcus sheltered her. As a result, the gentle giant possessed a painfully timid heart.

She walked over and gently massaged his thick shoulders. "Liam, sweetie... can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

She kept her voice soft and ****, using the exact angle Samuel had suggested. "Do you ever feel lonely in this big house? I know I do. Your father works such long hours."

Liam paused his game. He glanced up at her, his brow furrowing. "I guess. It's pretty quiet around here."

"It really is," Amelia sighed dramatically. "I was thinking... it would be so nice to have a friend to talk to. Maybe someone to have coffee with during the day. But you know how strict your father is."

Liam scoffed, a rare flash of bitterness crossing his face. "Dad is paranoid. He thinks everyone is out to get us. He'd probably interrogate a mailman just for waving at you."

Amelia nodded eagerly, validating his frustration. "Exactly! He gets so angry over the littlest things. If I made a nice, harmless friend from the neighborhood... you wouldn't tell him, right? Just to keep the peace?"

Liam's jaw tightened. He despised his father's shouting matches. The suffocating tension Marcus brought into the house over minor infractions. "I won't tell him, Mom. It's none of his business anyway."

Amelia beamed. She wrapped her arms around his massive neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, my sweet boy. You're the best son a mother could ask for."

She pulled back, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "How are the kids at your college? Are you making any new friends?"

Liam stiffened instantly, his jaw tightened. He swallowed hard, **** to hide the reality of his daily torment from his fragile mother. "They're fine. You should go now, mom."

"Oh Liam, honey I just want to talk to you about your college, it's been so long since we talked properly like this. You used to tell me everything about your school so excitedly before"

Liam looked at Amelia's innocent, pleading face. "That was a long time ago, Mom. I'm grown up now. Besides-"

He stopped himself. He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted to explain that the only reason guys at his old school had befriended him was to get closer to his gorgeous mother. They had mercilessly teased him, calling him a "mama's boy" until the humiliation became too much to bear. That was the real reason he had slowly pulled away, creating this quiet rift between them.

But looking at her fragile smile, he just couldn't break her heart. He swallowed the bitter truth and changed the subject.

"Look, Mom, I have a lot of homework to catch up on for tomorrow. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Oh, of course! I'll let you study." Amelia kissed his cheek and practically floated out of the room.

She closed his door with a soft click. The path was completely clear. Liam was on her side, Marcus was totally oblivious, and her encrypted app sat hidden on her phone.

Tomorrow, she would visit the vegetable garden.