Chapter 51: Nosy Collegues 

Author PoV

Mrs. Carter sat in the center of the living room with her hands covering her face. She cried, and tears dripped from her hands onto the clean carpet. Her spouse stood next to her, with one hand on her shoulder, his eyes also tired and red around the edges. The space, typically an ideal representation of suburban life, currently seemed oppressive with sorrow and rage.

A timid rap shattered the oppressive silence. Mr. Carter approached the door, moving slowly and tiredly. He exposed it, showing two women in their middle years, their faces marked with worry. One person carried a tray of cookies, filling the room with the aroma of sugar and butter, a contrasting sweetness in the sour ambiance.

"We got word about Kate," the taller woman murmured softly, almost whispering. "We apologize deeply."

Mr. Carter agreed with a nod, moving out of the way to allow them to enter. The women went up to Mrs. Carter, who glanced at them with streaked mascara, puffy red eyes.

The petite woman