"I was talking with Margo and badgering Irene for some baked cookies." He eyed the scotch his friend had poured and lifted a brow.
Pouring a second glass, Oscar handed it to him.
"She thinks I'm being unreasonable and accused me of being manipulative. She compared me to her mother." He grimaced and took a sip. "That was a low blow. Why the hell would she want to see him?" He wondered.
"To get some sort of closure, I imagine." Eric sat and sipped the excellent scotch. "What's your excuse?"
"I want to look into his eyes and see for myself that it's really over. We've spent several months being tortured by this bastard, I want to put it to bed."
"And you don't think she wants the same?"
"She's pregnant."
"And you want to protect her." Eric shook his head. "Understandable, but you have to remember the type of woman you hooked up with. She was forced to assert herself and stand up to a mother who puts her down at every turn. She does not need that type of behavior from you."
Oscar wanted to disagree, but his friend was right. "My default mode is protecting her."
"Yeah, I get that."
He stared down into his glass, the amber liquid swirling as his thoughts churned. "But protecting her sometimes feels like the only thing I can do." He struggled to find the words, hisvoice quieter now. "I just-- I can't stand the idea of anything happening to her again. Not after everything."
"You should tell her that and try making the decisions with her instead of for her." Eric grinned. "Like I said, I'm no expert at the relationship bit, but I think I know enough."
"See yourself out." Tossing back the rest of the drink, Oscar left the room.
Whenever she was this angry, she either poured herself into her writing or took a long hot bath. Since she wasn't in the mood for writing, then naturally, it would be the bath. Deliberately keeping her mind clear of all negative thoughts and emotions, she selected the necessary implements. A fruity bath oil Oscar had brought back from Ireland for her and some calming beads.
Pouring everything into the warm water, she added cinnamon and rosemary as well. Testing the temperature, she went into her office for a bottle of non-alcoholic Costa Indulgence she had picked up from her trip to Spain when doing research a year ago.
Stripping off her clothes, she poured the wine. Putting the glass on the wide lip of the tub, she lowered herself and sank down,inhaling the soothing scents as the water swirled around her. She would calm her mind, cleanse it with the mood candles she had lit.
Leaning her head back on the padding, she closed her eyes and forced herself to relax and not think about men. They were the bane of her existence.
One would think that this was good news. The bastard who had been a threat to her was laid up on a hospital bed, dying. So, what if she wanted to go and see him? What if she actually felt sorry for the poor sick son of a bitch? Wasn't she entitled to her feelings?
Feeling the anger surfacing again, she reached for the glass and took a sip. She tried to convince herself that feeling compassion didn't make her weak. It just made her human. Still, the conflict churned inside her, mixing guilt with resentment until she wasn't sure which one was stronger.
Maybe seeing him would bring some kind of peace, even if it was only a small piece. She deserved to find her own closure, on her own terms.
She had accused Oscar of being like her mother and she had meant it at the time, but now the guilt was there, replaced by the anger. He was nothing like her of course. She had said all of thatto hurt him. Sighing, she took another sip of wine and was about to put the glass down when she noticed him standing just inside the doorway.
Unwilling to forgive him just yet, she glared. "Go away."
"I'm here to apologize." Ignoring the killing look she threw at him, he walked into the room. Sitting on the lip of the bath, he took the sponge and started to rub her shoulders.
"I'm an idiot."
"Damn straight."
He figured it was a good sign that she was not resisting his help.
"I'm possessive."
"And arrogant."
"That too." He continued to move the sponge across her back and shoulders.
"As well as an ass."
