When I go down to bring back the leftovers from breakfast, I hear Danny’s anger, and I don’t understand why.
“You can’t be serious, man? You could have at least changed before coming home.”
“I know, Danny, but I didn’t think about it...”
When I enter the kitchen, the two of them stop talking. Even before seeing Jeremy, I smell the scent of vanilla, more powerful than ever. Nausea catches me off guard, and I run to the sink.
I freshen my face, but I miss the air and go out on the patio. Zoë immediately follows me. Danny runs, worried, and Jeremy follows him.
“Hailey, are you okay?” Danny asks
I signal that I’m out of air. Jeremy tries to get closer.
“Stop! It’s the smell of vanilla. Go fucking change!”
Jeremy runs upstairs, and Danny hugs me, rocking me. “Shhh, it’s okay, baby. Inhale and exhale slowly. Don’t hyperventilate. Please, baby.”
I start to breathe even though my side hurts.
“Good, inhale, and exhale.”
“How are you, love? Can I do something to help you?” asks Jeremy.
“The water and the painkiller, please,” I say in a whisper. When Jeremy comes back, I’m a little calmer. I get up and swallow the pill with the water.
Jeremy comes over and hugs me, but I move away.
“I have to go lie down. Danny, thank you for the company. Stay for lunch if you can. Or one of these nights you should come to have dinner with us. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Of course, we’ll spend some time together in one of these evenings. I still have to check my schedule.”
I smile at him as I go to hug him quickly. I take in his perfume and whisper a “thank you,” after which I return inside.
It couldn’t last forever, but I’m happy with these little pieces of heaven.
Jeremy joins me after a while. He comes over to hug me, and I move.
“Hailey, please! I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for exactly? Betraying me or not even trying to hide it?”
“Enough! I don’t have to hide anything from you. Stop your nonsense!”
“The fact that you can’t keep it in your pants doesn’t surprise me, but I can’t understand why you don’t ask me for a divorce and go fuck all the women you want!”
He slaps me. “Stop it! Since the day you said ‘I do,’ you’ve been mine, and only death can separate us. Don’t test my patience!”
My head thunders, and I drop to my knees.
He comes and hugs me. “I love you, baby, you’re my world. I can’t wait to hold my children. What happened before will never happen again. I don’t want to see you having those respiratory fits. I’ll make sure to change first before I get home. Okay?”
I hate you for all of this! Damn, that day, we went out for that coffee!I tell myself
“Okay.”
“Okay what?” he asks sternly.
“Okay, love.”
