“Coffee?” Blanche says in a cheery tone.
“That’d be great. Thanks Blanche.”
“Will that be one or two cups to go?” Her grey eyebrow rises on one side.
“Er…” I scratch the back of my neck. “Just the one will be fine.” I wince, knowing I’m gonna have to come clean to Blanche about Merry, especially if I’m gonna move all her stuff into my room, but I’m too much of a coward to tell her the truth. Blanche was there when I went through my divorce. She won’t want to see me get hurt again. And if I continue on this path, getting hurt is the only thing I’m certain of.
I scan the area again, but it’s as if last night never happened.
“If you’re looking for your clothes, I put them in the washing machine.” She waves the coffee pot between us. “And don’t worry. I’ve wiped all the surfaces.” Her shoulders jiggle with a hearty chuckle.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve cleaned up afterwards, but?—”
“No buts. It’s about time you two admitted your feelings to each other.” She pours coffee into two mugs. “And you can tell her I’ve bagged her dress up for the dry cleaners. Couldn’t salvage her undergarments though, not even with my sewing skills.”
“You know?” I gulp air down my dry throat. I was sure Blanche would lecture me.
“I might be old, but there isn’t much that slips past me. You didn’t think I noticed how nervous you were before she flew outor how you jumped at the chance to collect her from the airport when Finn had to have some last-minute suit alterations, or how happy you’ve been since she moved into the pool house.” Blanche hands me my drink.
“It’s gonna make it harder when she goes, though, isn’t it?” I stare down into the black coffee swirling around in the mug like a vortex. It mirrors the whirl of emotions in my mind, drowning in a black sea of despair with no positive outcome.
“She’s definitely brightened this place up, that’s for sure. I’ll be sad to see her go myself.”
“I’ll be sad to leave.” Merry’s voice is barely a whisper from behind me.
I spin around to her tentatively entering the kitchen, wearing my robe.
Reaching out a hand, I grab the tie on the robe and tug her towards the breakfast bar. “If I had my way, I’d keep you here forever.”
Her cheeks flush and she glances over at Blanche. “Thank you for bagging up my dress for the cleaners.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Just how long were you listening back there?”
“Long enough.” Her smile reaches her eyes. “I was nervous about coming here, too. It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other in the flesh.”
Blanche slides another coffee onto the counter and dabs her eyes. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see the two of you together again.”
I know Blanche’s tears are happy ones, but this state of euphoria won’t last and come Boxing Day, Marry’s going back to her life in London and the house will go back to how it was before, just an empty shell where I sleep at night. But somehow, with Merry here, she’s turned it into a home.
Chapter Nine
MERRY
Iclutch the handkerchief in my hand that Alex gave me during the wedding rehearsal. I was a weeping mess and dread to think what I’ll be like tomorrow during the real thing.
After checking my eye makeup in the ladies, I exit the restroom, walking into the foyer of the Mad Vine restaurant.
Alex steps out of the shadows. A wall of muscle pins me into the corner. “We need to talk.”
“What do you want to talk about?” My heart races as it always does when he’s in this dominant role. His musky scent fills the little space between us. It’s hypnotic, as if getting me high on his pheromones.
His nose trails down my neck as if inhaling my scent, too. I made sure to wear his favourite perfume tonight. The one he always used to buy me. “I want you tonight. But with our son staying over at the house so he doesn’t see the bride before the wedding, how am I gonna sneak you into my bed?”
“Maybe I can sneak you into the pool house.” I pull on his tie. “How’s your back holding out?” A smile quirks my lips.
“Don’t you worry about me.” His lips press against my neck, just below my ear as he whispers against my skin, “How’s that pussy holding out?”
“My pelvic floor’s grateful for the exercise.” My lips curve into a wide smile, my vagina clenching at the mere thought of having him again tonight. I only have four more days with this man, and I want to make them wonderful. If that means sneaking around behind Finn’s back, then so be it. He wouldn’t understand how I can still love his father after all these years, even though I chose not to be with him.
