Rosaline’s head snapped up in surprise. “I’m cleaning the carpet.”
“I can see what you are doing, I asked who gave you permission to come into my study? You have no right to go through my things!”
She came to her feet and began to apologize as she had been accustomed to do in the past. “I’m sorry...”
He cut her off with a wave of his hand. “You should ask before you go poking around in people’s things and rummaging through their property.” Thomas stormed over the sodden carpet, leaving muddied boot prints behind.
He had his back turned to her as he examined his guitar. “You can leave,” he barked and dismissed her attempts at an apology.
“Thomas Stratton, you listen to me right now!”
He turned around in surprise at the tone of her voice. Her bright green eyes were flashing with anger and her fists were clenched at her sides.
“I apologize if this room was meant to be private. Had I known that, I would never have come in here. But you do not get to shout at me like some tyrant!” Her nostrils flared. “I was just cleaning the house and noticed the carpet needed to be scrubbed.”
He clenched his jaw in anger but let her continue.
“I’m here to clean your house and look after your son, so kindly refrain from getting angry at me for doing just that.”
Robbie began to cry in his crib, startled by the sudden shouts.
“If you will excuse me, Sir,” She addressed him sarcastically. “Buena has gone into town to see her husband, and your son needs me,” She turned to leave and called over her should before she stomped off down the hall. “Even if you don’t!”
Thomas stood staring at her retreating figure. Rosaline Berry had seemed so agreeable and compliant at first, he hadn’t realized she had a temper. He looked down at the muddied footprints he’d left over the carpet. His anger subsided.
She’d called him a tyrant and addressed him as Sir. Was that really how she saw him.
Something about Rosaline seeing him in that light bothered him deeply. A few hours ago he’d thought they were doing okay. He leaned back against his desk and let out a loud sigh as he ran his hand through his hair.
He’d have to apologize to her. She was right. It wasn’t fair to take his anger out on her. Rosaline was holding up her end of the agreement, she was cleaning the house and looking after his son. It was he who was falling short.
Why had he reacted so strongly without thinking?Seeing the guitar his wife had given him out of place had blinded him with anger. He needed that memory to be just his, untouched by others.How will she know if you don’t tell her?He felt a small voice inside nudging his conscience.
Shaking his head at his folly, he pushed himself off his desk.I can’t leave it like this, I have to apologize.Thomas made his way down the hallway to Robbie’s room.
Rosaline was rocking in the chair with Robbie on her lap when Thomas quietly stepped into the room.
Robbie was dozing peacefully against her chest, his cheeks flushed from crying.
He waited a few minutes but Rosaline didn’t look up at him. Thomas quietly walked over the crib and stood a few steps away from her so that he could talk quietly, not wanting to wake his son again. “The guitar was a present from my wife,” he said in a soft voice.
Rosaline looked up with understanding in her eyes, her lips forming a small O.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you.” He quietly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Nobody has touched that guitar since she passed. Even I haven't...” His words trailed away as a lump caught in his throat.
“You don’t have to say anymore,” she whispered gently. Taking care not to wake Robbie, she pushed herself up from the chair and carefully walked over to the crib and laid him down.
Thomas watched as she smiled down at his son, whisps of auburn hair escaping from her bun. He bent over next to her and gently stroked Robbie’s soft curls. “It wasn’t fair for me to yell at you.”
She leant over and gently placed her hand over his where it was holding the side of the crib. “I understand,” she whispered.
Without thinking, Thomas took his other hand placed it over hers. They stood there in silence for a few minutes as he held her hand between his. It felt natural and right as they stared down at Robbie breathing deeply in his sleep.
Thomas felt her pulse jumping as his thumb gently brushed her wrist. The feeling made him acutely aware of his own heartbeat, and he could smell a hint of the lemon oil he had come to associate with her.
Subconsciously, he leant a bit closer. Her hair smelt like the sun from her morning chores on the ranch. Thomas closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, his chest pressing up against her shoulder.
***
