Nausea hits, and it’s because this dream is wilting away. Renting wouldn’t be an option, as I have all of the renovations and changes I would need to make.
She holds her finger up. “It’s a good thing, no? You won’t have to worry about extra financing.”
My face must look sullen as I really was counting on a place to own. “That is true, but unfortunately, you will need to find someone else. I’d really need to make the space my own, and I don’t think a landlord would appreciate that.”
“I thought so.”
The air grows heavy with the mood tampered.
It’s more than a few seconds that I sit there, debating if I should be polite and wait for a goodbye or excuse myself already.
“As I mentioned, I have been considering options,however…” Hope ticks up inside of me. “Provided all of the paperwork checks out, then it’s yours.”
My entire body morphs into pure ecstasy. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
I glance at Molly to ensure this isn’t a joke, but she has a reassuring look.
My hands find my heart because this is such a milestone. The school is going to happen. It really is.
“Congratulations.” Ingrid smiles.
“Thank you.”
They give me a minute to let the shock wear off. I knew it was a possibility when I walked in here, but it’s different now that it’s confirmed.
It’s a few minutes of admin and another round of smiles before I’m walking down Main, reflecting on the detail that it’s because of Oliver that I was even able to go down this road, at the start at least. It seems to be irrelevant now in buying terms. Now, our marriage takes on a different direction.
It’s because I can’t shake away that he is my husband, nor do I want to. There are so many things we can be still. And stating the obvious is a start.
I love him.
We’ve been moving through the actions but not saying the words.
That’s not us.
We are two strong-minded people who went off track.
Now, we have to take the step to decide how we want our marriage to be.
Because we are together, and I refuse to break that.
Rushing into Oliver’s house,I walk on the balls of my feet toward his office down the hall, not wanting to make noise or interrupt in case he’s in a meeting.
The tap on my back startles me, and I yelp. Turning, I see Oliver who seems pleased that he caught me off guard.
“Sorry. It was too enticing to do that. I finished my call a while ago.”
“We don’t need to be married. Not anymore.” It bursts out of my mouth without warning, forgetting that I said I would return with coffees after my discreet trip to get them.
His face falls and his eyes widen from the bold words that just flew out of my mouth.
“It was all for nothing. In the end, she didn’t seem to mind,” I further explain.
A sound cracks and flows through his throat, and his eyes narrow.
Oh… wait.
