I walk up the driveway slowly, my robe tied tight against the cold.
Is this really that big of a deal?
I expected Patrick to be upset, not…this.
In the kitchen, I pour myself a cup of coffee and stare at the steam curling up from the mug. Should I take him some? On the rare mornings when we both have the day off, we get up together, send Milo off with Harvey, then spend the rest of the morning tangled in bed before picking him up and spending the day as a family.
Right now, I doubt he wants that.
Still… I should try.
Balancing two mugs, I push open the bedroom door with my hip.
Patrick is still in bed, the blinds drawn tight. The room is almost dark except for the thin line of light slipping in at the bottom of the curtains.
I set the mugs on his bedside table and cross to the window. With a quick tug, I pull the blinds open.
Sunlight instantly floods the room, warm and bright.
Patrick groans immediately, dragging the sheets over his head like a shield.
I sit on the edge of the bed, not touching him, just over the blanket, close but not too close.
“Patrick,” I say quietly.
He doesn’t answer.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself.
“I know finding out about…” I start.
He groans under the blanket, a low, frustrated sound that cuts me off.
I swallow and try again. “Patrick, it wasn’t pleasant to hear. I get that. But it was in the past.” My voice softens. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
I wait for a sign that he’s listening, that he cares but nothing comes.
“Okay,” I say quietly. “If you want to be upset, be upset. You’re entitled to that. But I can’t fix something you won’t even talk to me about.”
Still nothing.
I nod to myself, not that he can see and step back from the bed.
“I’ll be here,” I add, voice wavering. “When you’re ready to talk.”
Then I turn and walk out, leaving him to wallow in his silence.
Patrick
I tug the covers down when I start to feel suffocated. The air outside the blanket isn’t much better. My chest tightens, every breath coming out in shallow wheezes.
Lore just apologized to me.
Sheapologized.
Tome.
If I didn’t already feel like gum on the bottom of her shoe, I sure as hell do now.
