That's it, just three words.
"He bought you books?" Valentina asks, sounding surprised.
I nod, and my fingers tighten around the note. "He remembered," I say quietly. The bookstore and the dragons. He remembered our conversation. A smile pulls at my lips before I can stop it.
"Well," Valentina says, grinning. "That's actually adorable."
Heat creeps into my cheeks, I look down at the books again, maybe married life won't be quite as terrible as I thought.
“What type of books do you like to read?” she asks as she takes a seat on the sofa and pats the seat beside her for me to sit down.
“Honestly, everything?” I say with a laugh. “I have a very eclectic taste, and I’m a mood reader. At the moment, I’m big into fantasy,” I say and point to the stack of books her brother bought for me.
I watch as her eyes get huge. “Oh, me too. I love a good fantasy book. We should buddy read sometime, it’ll be amazing. Erin, my best friend, and I do it all the time. That’s if you’d like too?”
“I’d love that,” I say softly, and I can feel the pain start to ebb its way back into my head. I should have gotten some painkillers before we arrived here.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her brows knitted together. “It looks like you’re in pain?”
I need to remember how observant Valentina is. It seems that she doesn’t miss a thing.
“Just a headache,” I reply, hoping to brush it off.
Before she can say anything, I hear footsteps behind us. I turn and see Vittoria walking toward us, Joe a step behind her with a tray in his hands.
Vittoria takes a seat on the armchair opposite us. Joe sets the tray on the table. “Quinn, I wasn’t sure which tea you’d like, if you like any at all, but I had Louisa purchase some English Breakfast Tea. If that’s not your preferred tea, please let me know.”
“Joe, that is so thoughtful and I truly appreciate it. English Breakfast Tea is my favorite and I drink it every evening at home, or when I’m reading,” I say sheepishly as I glance at Valentina to see that she’s beaming. “Thank you,” I tell him.
He bows slightly. “My pleasure, Quinn, I’m so glad that I chose right. Now, if the tea’s not up to par, please do tell me how you’d prefer it brewed.”
I lean forward and pour a cup from the pretty white and blue teapot and see that it’s not too strong nor is it too weak. It looks perfect, just the way I like. I add a little milk, stir slightly, all the while knowing I’m being watched and I hate it, but Joe’s gone out of his way to be thoughtful so I can push past this. I take a sip and moan deeply. “This is perfection,” I say honestly. “Thank you, Joe, so very much.”
He bows once again, all the while beaming at me. “You’re very welcome, Quinn. I’ll see you for dinner.”
“Okay, I’m going to need to try that,” Valentina says, reaching for my cup. I watch as she takes a sip and sighs dramatically. “I get it,” she says. “It’s amazing, I’ll be joining you for tea from now on, Quinn.”
I hear Joe’s laugh as he moves away from us and I grin as Vittoria also reaches for my cup. I pick up one of the other teacups that Joe brought up and pour another cup and then another as I notice Vittoria isn’t handing the cup back. I laugh as I hand one to Valentina.
"How are you doing?" Vittoria asks once we’re alone.
"Fine," I say, and sigh. "Actually, I’m overwhelmed."
"I remember feeling the exact same when I came to live here. But you’re not alone, you don’t have to be. You have us, for whatever you need, Quinn.”
I look between Vittoria and Valentina. My heart swells with so much emotion. God, these women are killing me.
"I mean it," she says. "This is your home now, we just want you to be you."
My throat tightens slightly, and I try to breathe through it. "I don't know who that is," I whisper. What is wrong with me? Why am I opening up to these women?
“Oh Quinn,” Valentina whispers as she reaches for my hand. “I promise you, that here you will be safe, and we can help you find out who you really are.”
I run my hand over my temples as the pain intensifies.
“You have a headache,” Valentina says. “We should take these pins out of your hair,” she tells me as she reaches for them. “They must be killing you, they’ve been in since yesterday.”
I don’t argue with her. I couldn’t bring myself to take them out as the pain was too much. I grit my teeth and let her pull them from my hair. It doesn’t take her long to get them all out, but when she runs her fingers through my hair to ensure she has them all, her hand brushes over the huge knot on my head and I hear her pull in a ragged breath.
