by Rose Lange
Her mouth opened, and her jaw hung there stupidly, and thank God she wasn’t holding the coffee cup in her hands because it would have fallen. Spilling all over her and this beautiful ivory white bedding. It shouldn’t have come as a shock considering he’d told her last night, although she probably wasn’t meant to hear it.
Shaking her head, she tried to get her thoughts together.
“Excuse me.” She quickly got up and made her way to the kitchen, not knowing where else to go really.
She placed her hands on the counter, rapping them against the granite surface, and let her head fall. She closed her eyes, because her mind was spinning, and she couldn’t make it stop. This was getting too messy and too involved. The water was too deep and she was in way over her head. She did the only thing she could of and started pulling out materials to bake a loaf of bread. Maybe if she kneaded some dough, and busied her hands this problem would go away, take care of itself. She pulled out a mixing bowl, the flour, yeast, and other essentials and already started to feel a little better. Albeit foolish, but better, as she started mixing the ingredients together, kneading the dough until it felt ready to shape into a loaf.
As she turned to set the oven temperature, she bumped into Kade, looking up at him and knowing he was seeking answers. Damn it, she didn’t have any. Couldn’t he see she was damaged goods? That he would be better off with someone else? It puzzled her that even after revealing her painful past, that he still loved her, and wanted to marry her.
“Annabelle, give me one good reason why you don’t want to marry me again?” he demanded, putting his hands on his hips.
“Because,” she paused, trying to think of the right thing to say. “I’m not good enough for you.”
And as the words flew out of her mouth, she realized they were her mother’s words. She sounded pitiful, even to her ears.
“Then what the hell was last night, Annabelle?”
She closed her eyes, and turned her back on him. Feeling like the worst sort of coward for not looking him in the face, and for lying to him, telling him she didn’t love him when it couldn’t have been further from the truth. And knowing without a doubt she was throwing away happiness with both hands, but was unable to stop herself.
Annabelle once again turned to face him. “I don’t have an answer for you, I’m sorry,” she paused, “I’m damaged goods, Kade. You don’t really want me.”
She took a deep breath, because the tension in the room went up a notch. The angry look of thunder on his face, and the way his jaw tightened told her everything. His eyes told a different story because she could see they were slightly watering, and he looked defeated. He didn’t have to say a word for her to know. Then she wished she could take back her lies, tell him the truth, but she couldn’t.
“Damn it, let me be the judge of that!”
She flinched, and shrunk back into the counter, not intending to, but his tone wouldn’t allow an argument, and didn’t ask for further comment. He’d only ever raised his voice when the situation warranted it. Squaring her shoulders, she tried to feign the bravado she wasn’t feeling.
Annabelle took another deep breath before she spoke again. “I’m no good for you, and the sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be.”
Right then and there, she could hear his heart break into a million tiny pieces. His stony glare and his tense stance told her exactly what he was thinking. Then, his shoulders slumped and she knew the fight was taken out of him, and she just wanted to die. Wanted to kick her own behind for putting the expression of hurt on the face of the only man she’d ever loved.
She must have been foolish to think it could work out the second time around.
No longer able to look at him, she turned away. Resting her hands on the counter for support. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, as though that could make these feelings go away, but she could hear his annoyed scoffs to her back. She wished he’d just leave her alone in her misery and confusion.
“Then maybe you should have thought about that before coming to my door, when you knew damned well what was going to happen.” And she could tell he spewed venom with every word, mixed with a tinge of pain and hurt.
She wasn’t able to look him in the face, feeling like the worst sort of coward. She’d made sweet love to him, opened up to him about her entire past, and he still loved her and wanted to marry her. It sounded ridiculous, but she felt unworthy of his love. Didn’t feel like she’d deserved it after she’d stomped on his heart so long ago. As though she deserved the abusive relationship that followed. She was broken, and he deserved someone far better to spend the rest of his life with, and to have his children.
The last thought made her ache in the pit of her stomach.
Then he said simply, “Then I guess this is over. After the rest of our time is up we’re going our separate ways. Goodbye, Annabelle.”
By the time she turned around, he was gone. She frowned, her mind whirling at lighting fast speed, unable to help it. She crossed her arms over her breasts, and her heart broke; yet she didn’t know how to make it stop.
She hung her head, and silently allowed the tears she’d been holding back, to fall.
The next few weeks slipped by, and they’d been extremely awkward to say the least. He didn’t say one word to her, not that she blamed him. Maybe some days she got lucky, and he’d greet her with a good morning, but they’d be few and far between. He didn’t cook much anymore, and she usually ended up throwing together a small meal; eating alone at the kitchen table most nights. The cabin wasn’t filled with passion and laughter as it once had been. And it absolutely killed her; even though she only had herself to blame it still hurt like hell.
To be this close to him and not be able to talk to him, to touch him, to reach out to him was pure misery. She wished she could change the past, and make things the way they used to be. Before things had gotten messy and involved. Before he’d given his heart to her on a silver platter and she’d stomped on it.
For the second time, she thought miserably to herself.
Annabelle arrived home from work the next night, and it had been no different than any other night. Besides the phone call from the lawyer, the cabin had been filled with an eerie silence. Mr. Fox said he had something for each of them, and asked if they’d both be home in the morning.
She’d let Kade know when he came home from work, and he merely nodded, not saying one word to her as he proceeded to his bedroom.
The next morning after a restless night’s sleep, she quickly showered and made her way to the kitchen, anticipating the lawyer’s arrival.
She went about making the coffee, and grabbed a banana for her breakfast. But she was too nervous to eat, so she’d take it along and eat it on her way to work. Glancing at her watch, it was a little after eight-thirty. The lawyer said he’d be here around quarter to nine.
What more does Aunt Gracie have planned for us?
She poured herself a cup of coffee and looked out the kitchen window. Glancing at the pool, she grinned at the memory of watching Kade skinny dip that first morning here. She shook her head, and wished she could press rewind.
“Good morning.”
She jumped, nearly dropping her mug in the sink. Turning, she smiled, thinking that was the most he’d said to her in weeks.
“Hi there.”
Kade came up next to her and poured himself a cup of coffee, and as he made his way to the table, a knock sounded at the door.
Setting down her coffee, she went to answer it, and braced herself for what he might have.
“Good morning, Ms. O’Sullivan, Mr. Hoffman. These are for you.” As the attorney handed her the letters, her hands shook slightly.
“Thank you,” she said.
He nodded, and turned to leave.
Closing the door b
ehind him she handed one letter to Kade, then opened the one addressed to her.
Annabelle couldn’t believe her eyes. It read that after the two months were up, they were both legally allowed to stay here.
“Holy shit,” Kade muttered, setting the letter down on the table.
“My thoughts exactly.”
Just when she thought this crazy merry-go-round-of-a-ride was over, her aunt had thrown her another curve ball from beyond the grave. And, one that apparently couldn’t be avoided, damn it.
“I’m staying.” Her voice sounded strong, but she knew deep down her heart wasn’t feeling strong. But she’d feign bravado if she had to.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Fine. But just so you’re aware, I’d like to stay as well. I’ve become a little attached to this place.”
Annabelle’s mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.”
An amused grin spread across his face, and he looked sickeningly sure of himself as he said, “I am very serious.”
“Come on. Just because this says you can stay, doesn’t mean you have to.” She felt childish as the words came out, but didn’t know what else to say.
He raised his eyebrows. “I am not leaving. Whether you are or not is entirely up to you, my sweet.”
Oh how she hated the way his voice dripped with sticky sweet sarcasm as he said, my sweet. Normally a term of endearment, the words now made her cringe.
She was either dreaming or having some surreal nightmare. It could not be happening. She shook her head. Jesus, how much worse could things get?
Kade took the last sip of his coffee, as he threw on his jacket. She stood there, not knowing what to say, just watching him all the while her mind spun. Her emotions ran on high.
He stopped at the door for a moment, assessing her as if trying to read her mind.
She scoffed. “Well, if you think you staying here is going to stop me, then think again. This is my aunt’s cabin and I’m not leaving either. You can’t intimidate me Kade Jacob Hoffman.”
She watched as he shook his head, and not saying another word as he walked out the door.
As Annabelle readied herself for bed that night, all she could think of was climbing under the covers and staying there. Her entire body ached and her head throbbed. She was mentally exhausted from the last few days’ worth of drama. She called the attorney when she arrived at work this morning and got all the facts. That phone call alone had given her a pounding headache, because her worst fear had been verified: they were both legally allowed to stay.
Really, she didn’t know how much more she could take. She was getting ready to brush her teeth when she heard the front door open and shut abruptly.
Shrugging her shoulders, she resumed her task, but stopped suddenly when she could hear a female voice. A lilting and nauseatingly sweet voice and she instantly wanted two sharp sticks for her ears.
She cocked her head, quickly finished her task, and moved closer to the door, trying to listen. Even though it was muffled, she could still hear both of them. Her jaw dropped. He’d brought a woman home! She could not believe her ears. Realizing she was being entirely irrational because they weren’t dating and weren’t together, but she was jealous. The tips of her ears burned red, and her lungs were about ready to combust like an atom bomb.
She pressed her ear up against the door, and could make out the words of this mystery woman. It sounded like they were in the living room. “Oh, Kade you sexy beast,” the woman trilled.
“Not as sexy as you, baby,” came his muffled reply.
Annabelle rolled her eyes. Really this was too sick even for her. She looked down at her appearance, and decided to throw on a robe and pretend to need something from the kitchen.
She casually walked out, seeing them making out on the couch. Strong pangs of envy clutched at her stomach, just watching as he nibbled at her neck, and she put her arms around him.
Pushing Kade off of her momentarily, the busty blond turned to look at her.
“Who is that woman?” the blonde asked.
Kade turned to look at her, obviously very drunk, and his words came out slightly slurred. “That’s just my roommate. Ignore her.”
The woman shrugged her shoulders, turning back toward Kade, letting him smother her neck with kisses, tilting her head back as she allowed him further access.
Annabelle pretended to rummage through the fridge for a snack, doing her best to drown the pair out, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. To think he’d bring a woman home, then have the nerve to make-out right in front of her. She tried to hold out as long as she possibly could, because really, it was none of her business. But it was becoming nauseating listening to them making out. She couldn’t help that the green-eyed monster had come out, and felt very foolish that she was even remotely jealous.
“What do you say we take this party to my room?” Kade said to the blonde, but it was loud enough that Annabelle could hear it.
“That sounds fantastic,” she purred.
Annabelle saw red. And before the other woman could get in a word, she slammed the fridge shut.
“That’s it! Get out!” And she didn’t give a damn about how she looked or sounded.
The blonde jumped off Kade’s lap as though he had a terminal illness, quickly getting up from the couch, she gathered her things. Looking at Annabelle as though she’d just sprouted horns atop her head and turned Smurf blue.
“I’ll drive you to your car in the morning, Kade,” the woman said, before quickly making her exit.
Annabelle put her hands on her hips, satisfied, as the door shut behind his late night, unwelcome guest. Kade turned to look at her; his expression cold like the tundra, and as black as the midnight sky. Making her shiver even if she was in her robe.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean by bringing a woman here?”
He laughed. “Why do you care?”
She pursed her lips together, knowing she’d already given away too much of her emotions by how she’d reacted.
“In case you forgot, this is my house too, and I have every right to bring whoever I want here.”
She shot him an icy glare. “Some floozy?”
“Again, why do you care? We’re not married and I have no ties to you. It’s like you don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone to else to have me either, is that it?” he bit off.
Annabelle bit the inside of her cheek and couldn’t deny his accusation. Trying to pretend like his words didn’t hurt, but also realized her wounds were self-inflicted.
She quietly assessed him for a moment before deciding to turn the tables on him.
“So, I suppose if I want to bring someone home, I may?” Knowing full well it would make him jealous, even though she had no intention of bringing anybody here.
Kade looked like he was ready to throttle her. His hands fisting at his sides and a furious expression on his face, but he didn’t say a word.
She inclined her head. “Wonderful, that’s all I needed to know, night, Kade.”
Annabelle started to walk back to her room, and was mildly disappointed when he didn’t follow her.
Annabelle drove home to the sounds of Carrie Underwood on the radio. She tried to shake lose all of the cobwebs that cluttered her mind, but this would be easier said than done. Lately her life had more drama than a daytime soap opera.
As she pulled up and caught sight of not one but two vehicles parked in the driveway. Pangs of anger and envy welled up in her belly, as she remembered last night’s fiasco.
Her eyes narrowed as she got out of her car, slamming the door behind her.
Thankfully the door was un-locked and she walked right in, and ready to let Kade get another earful. Last night hadn’t been enough for him; he’d had the
nerve to invite the blonde back when she wasn’t home. It made her sick to her stomach to think of them having sex in his bed. His bed. A place that was sacred in her mind because she’d had the most beautiful moments with him there. And to even think of him having sex with some other woman made her blood boil in her veins.
She squared her shoulders as she quickly burst in, seeing pure red and breathing fire.
“All right, Kade, where the hell is that cheap floozy!”
Annabelle’s jaw dropped and all the wind got knocked out of her sails. Because it wasn’t some cheap floozy but his father, standing there with amusement dancing in his kind eyes. Eyes that looked so much like Kade’s. She gulped, her face engulfed in fire engine red flames. She bit her lower lip, not knowing what to say, and wished the floor would open up from underneath and swallow her.
Kade chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand, clearly very much amused as he said, “Annabelle, say hi to my dad.”
Stunned into silence, she must have looked like a deer caught in headlights. The redness of humiliation warmed her cheeks, not knowing what she could possibly say to smooth this over. She couldn’t think of a damned thing that sounded plausible.
“Nice to see you, Annabelle,” Frank said.
She smiled, extending her hand. He’d always been like the father she never had.
“Nice to see you again, Mr. Hoffman.”
“I just thought I’d invite my dad over for dinner, so he could see the cabin.”
“That’s lovely, if you’ll excuse me.” And with this she quickly made her exit.
She shut her bedroom door, and rested her body against it.
Nice, Annabelle, always jumping to conclusions and flying off the handle. Now I need to go back out there and face the music.
Frank was a very kind gentleman, but she was so embarrassed that she wasn’t sure if she wanted to go back out there. Closing her eyes, and letting her purse fall to the floor, she took a deep breath, and picked herself up. Deciding she would deal with this awkward situation. Besides, she’d been through far worse in her life than this.
