“Clayton! Why would you do that?”
“If you want to be cold, then we will be cold together.”
“You’re unbelievable.” I shake my head.
He steps behind me as I grab onto the robes, he puts his hand on my back and pushes me forward gently as I swing.
“Why?” His question fills the comfortable silence. I don't bother asking him what he means.
“I wanted to understand what it is like to be chosen for once.”
The swing stops as he holds onto the robe, leaning closer to me, his torso to my side as I feel a hand hold my chin. He turnsmy head to the side, towards him as I look up and meet his green eyes.
I sigh. “Clay, I already know what you are going to say, mom told me that I deserve to always be the first choice. I love her, but it’s different from how my parents love me.”
He inches his face down close to mine as his forehead presses on mine. His eyes never leave mine and I can see a million emotions clashing through them.
“Your mom is wrong.”
I furrow in confusion, disappointment filling my guts, he catches the change in my demeanour. His finger brushes my skin in reassurance.
“Mon ange, you're theonlychoice in my world.”
The next day, my father leaves a newspaper on the kitchen counter as I glance at it. A black and white picture of Jackson’s father's restaurant catches my attention. I grab the newspaper and read the title as my eyes widen.
Last night in Grimridge, The ‘Hearthstone’ restaurant burnt to the ground, the coffee machines were filled with gasoline, which resulted in a huge fire. The owner is displeased with the ruined business.
Chapter Fourteen
The present
Doll
Thunder strikes the sky, rattling the glass windows. The leaves of trees glisten as the pouring rain washes away the dirt. A dull ache feeling sparks in my knees as I sit on the ground in front of the window, resting my hands on the coldness of the windowsill.
For the months I have been here, behind these doors. The floor to ceiling window has been my favorite place to lounge in this dark house. I don’t know how to name the emotion I feel when I stay here for hours. Calmness wash over me as the thoughts in my mind quieten, disappearing without a trace. Warmth spreads in my chest despite the windowsill coldness underneath my palms.
The rain drops bang over the glass in a beautiful chaos as they race downwards, I watch them with a mesmerized gaze. My lips tilt up as the drop I chose reaches down first.
“I have no idea why you keep defying me.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand upright as I turn my head slowly to face the only voice I have known.
His eyes narrow when they meet mine, his lips tight in frustration. The moonlight beam reflecting over the silver of his rounded glasses.
My eyes slide down his tall frame and find his fist tightening. I smile slightly and look back over the outside world that I wish to live for another try.
The lake on the side of the house is quiet and still as fog hovers all over it, hiding the beauty of its nature from my eyes.
A soft thud sounds beside my thigh as I look down and find a plush white pillow.
I smile as I tilt my head up to Clayton. “Thank you.”
He shakes his head in frustration as if what I said is absurd. He shoves his hands into his pockets and walks away, his back facing meas I hear him mumbleinaudibly. “I told you multiple times to put a pillow beneath your knees. The wooden floor is harsh on your skin.”
He sits down on an arm chair, his broad shoulders stretched wide as he leans back, widening his legs, adjusting himself to settle down and get comfortable.
The only light source in our house is the moonlight and the soft dim lamp. Clayton can’t tolerate bright lights, he explained to me that they make his blood boil, so we have always used candles or the small lamps.
