The strange man

“You seem happy,” the man next to me noted with a smile. “Was this your reason for coming over?”

“Yeah.” I turned, recalling something. “I will be back.” Smiling at the man, I went over to pay off the items and wrote my address so they would deliver the parcel to Dashiell's house. I would have added my address, but I wanted Dashiell to see it.

After swiping the card to pay for it, and getting complimented by the auctioneer who kept on trying to hook me with offers I wasn't interested in, I stepped towards the exit with my head held high.

As I left the auction room, I felt my mother-in-law's eyes on me, burning with a mixture of anger and resentment. I smiled to myself, knowing I'd won this round. She looked like she was barely keeping herself back from lunging at me.

Ignoring her, I walked out, fishing my phone from my handbag, so I could order a ride.

But as I made our way to the car park, she caught up to me, her heels clicking on the pavement. “You think you're clever, don't you