“I know you’ve grown to care for your husband. I approve of him as well. But he’s been so terribly—worried about you as of late,” Jasper says, as diplomatic as always.
“He worries too much,” I say, leaning my head back once again and closing my eyes. “He needed to go back to the office.”
Yet, I miss him. I can’t wait to tell him I looked into college courses. He’ll be proud of me. Maybe I should try and look into getting a therapist too. I shouldn’t hold on to all of this trauma. It’s not helping me get over it—I need someone to talk to about it, and that can’t be Perry all the time.
My entire life froze after I escaped from Seamus, and I hate it. It shouldn’t be like this. I just got married—yes, to a man I don’t even know, but that’s beside the point—I should be in wedding bliss. Going out and having fun with my husband. Making new friends.
I frown. There’s a problem. I don’t have any friends. Not really. Most of the ones I had in school are busy going to college. I’m the first one of the bunch to get married, and while a few of them were at my wedding, for the most part I don’t stay in contact with anyone besides through social media.
I can think of one person I’d enjoy spending more time with though…
Grabbing my phone from the side table by my chair, I bring up my text messages and scroll until I find her name.
Tinsley. My new sister-in-law.
Me:Hi! We should try and get together for lunch this week, if you have time.
We talked about it at Thanksgiving. Ash was there too, but she works at Halcyon so she wouldn’t be able to make it until the weekend.
Right now, I want to pick Tinsley’s brain. Try to find out more about my husband. What was he like when he was younger? A teenager? I bet he was just as charming. Maybe a little more reckless. I’m sure he was a lot of fun. He still is.
Unless he’s mad. Then he’s just ferocious. And sexy.
Ugh. So damn sexy…
My phone dings and I check it.
Tinsley:Hey! I would love to. My week is pretty busy, but maybe next Monday? What do you think?
Me:That sounds great.
Tinsley:We could Christmas shop after! Unless you don’t like shopping.
I don’t always enjoy shopping while my mother would take gold if it was an Olympic sport, but I would shop with Tinsley.
Me:I don’t mind shopping and I do need to Christmas shop.
What would I even get Perry? I have no idea. Tinsley might know though…
Tinsley:Yay! It’ll be fun! I’ll text you as we get closer, or you can text me. Whoever reaches out first.
Me:Sounds good. Looking forward to it.
Tinsley:Me too!
With a smile on my face, I set my phone onto the table next to my chair, then grab my cup of tea and take a sip. For the first time since everything happened with Seamus, I feel calm.
Happy.
“The tea is delicious,” I say to Jasper, who’s taken over the role of hovering. He doesn’t hang as close as my husband, and he’s using cleaning up around the terrace as an excuse, but I know what he’s doing. “Thank you for bringing it out to me.”
“It’s green tea, Miss Charlotte. Should help with your upset stomach,” he answers, his back to me.
I frown. How did he know my stomach was upset? I’ve tried to keep that quiet. It’s obvious to both of the men in this household that I’m not eating nearly as much, and I’ve kept the vomiting, almost, daily part to myself.
Yet here’s Jasper, yet again on to me.
“You know, you shouldn’t call me Miss Charlotte anymore, since I’m married now, Jasper,” I tell him.