I shut it as Harrison leads Seraphine to the living room just past the kitchen. There is a beautiful view of the city from the floor to ceiling windows. I get a bottle of water from the fridge and go to them.
“Do you need anything, baby?”
Baby? Why is he calling her that when they’ve broken up? And why in God’s name do I care?
Clearing my throat to make myself known, because standing here isn’t doing it, I offer the cold bottle of water to Seraphine when she looks up at me, those gorgeous green eyes filled with fresh tears. It makes me want to hurt the man who caused them, but then I remember he’s already dead. And then I remember my son has also caused her pain, and well, I won’t cause him that sort of pain. But I will help her. Make her better. Show her what it’s like to be cared for by someone who isn’t a complete fool.
God, what is wrong with me? My head is a goddamn mess. I don’t even know this young woman, yet… I can’t stop thinking about her, wanting her, needing her. It’s turning into an obsession that I have no control over. I’ve never felt such possession over someone, such anger over knowing they’re hurting. It’s maddening.
“Dad?”
The tone in which Harrison calls my name tells me it isn’t the first time he’s said it.
“Yes? Sorry.”
“Can you start some tea and get Sera some aspirin?”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
My feet stay rooted in place, though. I hold Seraphine’s gaze that is locked onto mine, some mystery emotion lingering in those doe eyes of hers. After a moment too long of staring, I turn and head into the kitchen, loosening my tie as it’s suddenly choking me.
I put on the tea kettle and prepare a mug, searching through cabinets to find where Harrison keeps the tea. All I find is loose leaf, a peppermint rooibos blend that I hope she’ll like. I prepare it with two sugars, hoping to gauge her sweetness palette by the way she ordered her coffee. As I wait for the kettle, I head to the bathroom and dig through the cabinet for aspirin, coming across multiple bottles of energy supplements and vitamins, pain relief creams and patches. I find the bottle of aspirin behind it all. Bringing the bottle to them, I linger for a moment, trying to see if they are sharing any words that I may find important. Harrison is sitting on the couch, so close their thighs are touching, with his arm around her, rubbing her shoulder.
All I know is I am certain Angela would not be happy with this scenario, and though Seraphine comes across as weak on the outside, I can’t imagine her being okay with this either. After all, she did not fight for my son, did not beg for him back. She accepted what happened and moved on.
So why is it that she ran here after this catastrophic event?
Perhaps she has nowhere else to go?
That will change.
Or maybe it’s just a moment of weakness. Needing something familiar?
The kettle whistles and I hurry to the kitchen to pour the tea and bring the mug over to set on the end table.
“It needs a few minutes to steep, but hopefully I made it to your liking.”
“Thank you,” Seraphine mutters, sniffling. I reach for a tissue to hand her, but Harrison beats me to it, giving her the box. I was going to pluck one and hand it over. Why not make it easier for her and give her directly what she needs? Especially in a time like this when I am sure her brain wants nothing but to shut down.
“You should stay here for a few days,” Harrison says to Seraphine, running his hand over her cheek.
Well, that image infuriates me.
“She’s already agreed to stay with me.”
At exactly the same time, they snap their heads up to face me. “What?” they both say. Seraphine is confused while Harrison’s anger is mirroring my own. I realize my mistake and quickly fix it.
“Well, notwithme, but in one of my apartments,” I amend, not wanting Seraphine to be uncomfortable but needing her to be away from my son. This setting isn’t good for her. She’s still in pain over what Harrison did to her. At a time like this, she doesn’t need a reminder of that.
“Why in the world would she do that?” Harrison spits out, glaring at me.
“She agreed to work for me. I’m paying her a generous hourly wage that will allow her to get on her feet. Along with the paywas other perks. I’m sure you’re well aware of them,” I say pointedly, trying to make it seem like this is all for him and nothing more. He did ask me to fix this, and though this may not be the right way—or the real reason—it’s what’s happening.
Harrison blinks a few times, then says, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to be alone. She should stay with someone.”
“I’ll be fine,” she says, putting her hand on Harrison’s arm. I stare at it, suddenly wishing I were one of those superheroes who could move objects with their eyes. Or burn them off. “Your father was nice enough to offer me a job and a place to stay, I shouldn’t deny it. Not after all this.”
She gives him a watery smile, and I want to drop to my knees and pull her into my arms. Hold her and make everything better. If only she’d let me.
