The September House

Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of alcohol addiction, as well as domestic violence and abuse.

The following morning Margaret wakes to find that Katherine has already left, presumably to file a missing persons’ report for Hal. After having the tea and toast that Fredricka prepared, Margaret heads out to the porch. Edie stops over, and the two chat all morning. Margaret muses about how easy Edie is to talk to and how much she values her friendship. She and Hal had enjoyed each other’s company once, but their struggles ultimately drove a wedge between them. Katherine returns after an absence of a few hours, still in a terrible mood. She found the police unhelpful. They told her that adults were allowed to “wander off,” but they promised to come by the house to speak with Margaret. Margaret frowns at this news, not wanting anyone to come over. The walls started bleeding early that morning, and she thinks that it will be hard enough to keep that information from Katherine, let alone several detectives. Katherine plows her way into Hal’s office and uses a crowbar to pry open the room’s locked cabinets.