Gemotions

The scent of lavender from the potpourri in the entryway did nothing to soothe Maria's frayed nerves. She'd been on edge since discovering the hidden key, the one tucked under the ceramic frog on the porch. She knew it didn’t belong to her. She let herself in.

The small, leather-bound book, locked in the desk drawer, felt heavy in her hand. Her pulse quickened as she ran her thumb across the worn clasp. Inside, written in her husband's familiar scrawl, were the details of a savings account, a secret stash, and a plan. The plan was unsettling.

She flipped through the pages, her stomach twisting with each entry.