Chapter 22I woke to the sound of chains scraping. Tad was not in bed. The sunlight was strong. Through the window, I saw the building of the night before. A wooden scaffolding dangled, two harnessed men in hard hats applied a gray paste with trowels to a section of wall. The phantom plastic had been tacked back like a drape and lost its mystery. I shut the curtains. Tad had left a note on the bedside table.
Be in the shower at 10:30 P.M. blindfolded.
I did not know what Tad did during my work hours and I liked not knowing. Each morning, there was a short scrawled note about that evening’s plan. Be on your back in the cage at midnight. Be at Aqua for dinner at nine. Drink the liquid in the china cup in the refrigerator.
I had always imagined if I were to fall into a relationship with a m
