A rose for emily:

Why are we not surprised when Homer disappears? How does the storyteller ensure that

we are not surprised?

I think Homer was Emily's way to respectability or at least a life that resembles normality for an ageing Southern Belle. It is likely that Homer gets second thoughts about marrying her and that is something Emily will not put up with. It is not surprising that he "vanishes" before he has a chance to skip town.