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“Hey, Tara,” she said as I got closer.
“How’s it going?” I asked.
“Same as always. Hi, little Mason.”
I smiled at her son, James. “Hi, little guy.”
“Nice day out,” she said to me.
“Yeah. It’s pretty nice, though I feel like someone’s been watching me.” I shrugged and laughed, mocking myself.
She smiled at me. “A little paranoid?”
“I guess so, but I don’t know why.”
“Lots of new faces around here,” she commented. “Maybe you’re just feeling exposed.”
I sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Oh, by the way, how is class going?”
“Just started this week. It’s going great. Exhausting, but I’m glad I’m doing it.”
“Awesome. Good for you.” She checked her phone, frowning. “Great. Some emergency at home. Got to head back.”
“Good seeing you. Stop over sometime.”
“Will do.” She waved and headed off, pushing her stroller in front of her.
I watched her go, frowning for a second. What did she mean there were lots of new faces? I looked around but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. It was just the usual people going about their business.
I shook my head, laughing to myself. I was being so stupid. It was the middle of the afternoon on a beautiful Friday; there weren’t any robbers or murderers around. Plus, it wasn’t like I lived in inner city Detroit. There weren’t many muggers in Dayton, Indiana, probably because there wasn’t much to mug for.
I kept on with my walk, finishing along the outer path that skirted the park. There was a small jungle gym that Mason would play on one day when he was older, some soccer fields, a little bathroom and concession stand area that was only open on weekends, and even a small pond toward the end of the trip.
By the time I finished the full loop, I felt tired and calm again. I’d forgotten all about the paranoia and was content to push Mason along, talking to him every once in awhile, but mostly just losing myself in my own thoughts.
As I turned along the path to head out of the park and back toward my parents’ house, I hit a little bump. “Oops,” I said, checking on Mason. “You’re okay, little guy?”
He just smiled up at me. The kid was completely resilient. He only ever cried when he was hungry or needed to be changed. Otherwise, he was the calmest baby I’d ever seen.
I started pushing his stroller again, heading back home. I passed through the gate that closed after sunset every day and walked along the uneven sidewalk, trying to be as careful as I could with Mason.
And then I got that feeling again, like someone was following me. I glanced back and saw someone walking along quickly, gaining on me.
I felt my heart leap in my chest, adrenaline taking over. I started to walk faster, trying to stay ahead of whoever was coming closer to me. I glanced back, but he was grinning at me. I moved quicker, walking fast, pushing Mason faster along the sidewalk. I spotted the house up ahead and risked looking back. He was getting closer and seemed to be waving at me.
I practically started jogging. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing, but for some reason I didn’t want that guy to catch up to me. I was afraid, I realized, absolutely terrified. I started jogging faster, pushing Mason along.
I made it to the driveway and up along it. I fumbled at the door for my key and realized that my parents both were out.
“Excuse me, miss?”
I looked up, terrified. The man had followed me all the way from the park, even though I’d been running from him.
“I don’t have anything,” I blurted out.
He looked at me strangely. “You dropped this.”
In his hand was my wallet.
Relief washed over me. “Oh my gosh, thanks so much. It must have fallen off when I hit that bump.”
“No problem. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I said, laughing. “I thought you were a mugger or something.”
He smiled at me. “Can’t be too careful.” He was taller than me, broad and handsome. He skin was dark and his dark hair was cropped short. I guessed he was Indian or something like that, though he spoke perfect English. He was a few years older than me and was dressed in really simple khaki pants and a polo shirt.
“Take care,” he said and then turned and walked away.
I watched him go for a second and then unlocked the door, feeling foolish. I didn’t know why I felt so paranoid and strange, or why I would run from a perfect stranger. All the guy wanted to do was return my wallet.
I opened the front door and pushed Mason inside, closing it and locking it behind me. Even though I knew that guy wasn’t chasing me to mug me or something, I couldn’t help but still feel a little uneasy. I was a single mother alone in a big house with just my baby. Anything could happen.
