“It is never enjoyable when you are in the center of such rumors,” Arabella thought. It was a good excuse for her mood, as any.
And everyone else could have bought it, that she was taking her distance to let the rumors die down. But not Bridget. As she said,they had grown up together, basically depending only on each other.
“I am sure,” Bridget said, “that whatever it is, it will pass.”
Arabella wished she had her confidence.
* * *
That night, she decided to sleep in her house, claiming nostalgia. It was not entirely false. She remembered how sleeping in her sister’s bed made her feel ever since she was a kid. And she very much needed that comfort in her life.
That very night, she slipped into Bridget’s bedroom, like she did every night she was distressed, anxious, or just sad. Here she was, all grown up, and yet she still felt like a little girl.
“You couldn’t sleep?” Bridget asked.
“It’s strange how the bed you have been sleeping on for so many years so quickly feels strange,” Arabella answered truthfully.
“You have moved on to the next phase of your life, that is all.”
Arabella felt a pang in her heart. Was this the next phase of her life, pining for a man who didn’t even consider her feelings? Didn’t sound much like life.
“This is what we are going to do,” Bridget said decisively. “You are going to rekindle the fire, and I will bring hot chocolate.”
“Hot chocolate!” Arabella smiled after so many days.
It was their ritual for the difficult days, for those nights when the pain was too great. Arabella always believed there was nothing a little bit of hot chocolate couldn’t heal.
Not long after, they were sitting on comfy cushions on the floor before the fireplace, with cups of hot chocolate warming their fingers. Arabella let the sweet, hot liquid warm her soul.
For a while, all they did was sit there in silence, in the soothing cocoon of their shared moment. But Arabella could feel Bridget watching her, waiting patiently.
“You know, Arabella, that you can tell me anything,” Bridget finally said.
“I…” Arabella decided it was best to lie and spare her sister from hearing her heartache. “Everything is fine. Just wanted to get away for a little while.”
“And that is just the thing, Arabella,” Bridget said, seeming a little bit annoyed. “You never give up.”
Arabella could feel the tension in the air. She was a fool if she thought that she could hide from her own sister. And frankly,she didn’t like that she was lying to her. Deep down, she needed someone to hold her feelings and make a little room for them.
“You do know, Bridget, that my marriage to Gerald was just a convenience. You were present when he came into our house to claim us as if we were a debt he was collecting.”
“That is true. I also saw how you were after your marriage. It didn’t look much like a marriage of convenience from where I was watching.”
“That is why… because you were watching only me,” Arabella hinted.
There was a heavier silence in the room, but Bridget was nothing but patient.
“I did a very senseless thing, Bridget.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“And yet I did,” Arabella smiled and took a sip from her hot chocolate for some liquid courage.
“So,” Bridget said solemnly, “you fell in love with your husband.”
Hearing someone say it out loud made it real. And that meant that the pain she felt was also real. Her fingers around the cup tightened, and her jaw locked.
“I see,” Bridget commented. “But I still don’t understand. Where is the problem?”
