The Violet Widow? (Shattered Heart #1)

by K E Osborn

  He looks at me and shakes his head. “No way baby, you’re not going home where I can’t look after you, and if I haven’t caught it by now, I doubt that I will. Anyway I don’t care if I do catch it then you can look after me and dress up like a skanky nurse. I’d love to play doctors and nurses with you,” he says winking at me. I laugh which then turns into a coughing fit. “Shit baby, sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. Note to self, no jokes,” he says and walks over and sits down next to my head on the sofa and rubs my back to help ease the cough. He sighs loudly as I finish my coughing fit and wipe my nose again. “Right, I better go. Stay on the sofa and call me if you need anything? I’ll be home soon,” he says with a smirk. A smirk that confuses me, but I don’t really care why he’s smirking I just want to fall asleep because I feel so out of it. He leans down, kissing my forehead and caressing my cheek. “Try to get some rest, okay?” I nod and he half-smiles and stands up and walks toward the door. “Love you,” he calls out and then I hear the door shut.

  I sink into the sofa further and get completely comfortable. I don’t plan on moving at all today.

  I wake to hear the front door opening. I’m a little confused as to what’s happening as my mind is foggy and it’s still daylight so Hudson wouldn’t have finished work yet. Midas jumps up and runs toward the door and I look up trying to see what’s going on when I notice Hudson walking in with a massive bunch of flowers. I move to sit up and look at him with a giant smile.

  “What are you doing home?”

  “I honestly couldn’t go to work with you feeling so poorly, so I took your car and went to the shops to buy some stuff for us today. Plus, the flowers to make you feel better and to show how much I love you,” he says and I smile and sniff at the same time.

  “You bought me flowers? That’s so nice of you, thank you. What else did you buy?” I ask peeking into the grocery bag.

  “Soup, more tissues and some trashy magazines for you to read. I want you to be comfortable so I’m staying home with you until you’re better.”

  “But what about your work? Won’t they be pissed?”

  “They weren’t happy, but they’ll get over it. You’re more important to me than work right now, plus you’re way prettier than the guys at work. I’d rather stare at you all day than them,” he says with a smirk.

  I smile and shake my head. He really is the sweetest, kindest person I know, and he would do anything for me, I know that now.

  “So you’re willing to spend the day with me even though I’m full of snot and festering with disease?”

  “Yeah, even then. Plus, today I kind of wanted off anyway,” he says blasé.

  I look up at him and furrow my brows in confusion. “Why?”

  “Well, today is ah… my birthday.” I stand up suddenly and sway slightly on the spot, I had no idea. “Hey, easy there baby, don’t want you falling over,” he says rushing toward me.

  “Hudson, it’s your birthday?” He nods. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I would have gotten you something? And instead you’re buying me flowers and soup?” I ask shaking my head as he reaches me and holds me at an arm’s length.

  “I didn’t tell you because honestly I forgot, until I saw the paper this morning, I’m only thirty-three, it’s not a celebration birthday and anyway I want to take care of you. Just being with you, Vee, that’s my present.”

  I sit back down. “I feel terrible. I remember you told me about your birthday like a month ago, but I totally forgot about it, and what the hell kind of person am I to not remember? I’m so sorry, and I can’t even pleasure you on your birthday. I don’t have the energy to fuck you and I can’t breathe through my nose to suck you off, and I can’t kiss you because I’ll infect you. This must be the worst birthday ever!”

  He chuckles and takes my hands in his. “Baby, I don’t need to have sex with you on my birthday. We can do that when you’re better, and trust me, we will, but I just want to spend today looking after you, please? Let that be your present. I want to be with you today and I don’t care if you can’t kiss me, just holding you in my arms is enough for me, that’s all I need from you,” he says melting my heart a little more.

  If he keeps doing that, my frozen heart will be completely thawed in no time, it’s practically in a defrosted state now. All I have to do is tell him what I do and about my past, and if he accepts it, then that will be the last of my frozen heart completely defrosted. I will be his completely, and to be honest I want that more than anything right now. I need to tell him, and soon. We’ve been together for six months and I honestly think he has the patience of a saint. How the hell he’s put up with me holding back on him is beyond me. I know I need to make this right and I know I need to tell him. Maybe just one more night… tomorrow I’ll tell him. I can’t tell him today – it is his birthday, after all.

  He looks at me and smiles caressing my cheek and then stands to walk to the kitchen. “Soup?” he asks and I nod and go to get up to help him.

  “Hey, sit down, remember I’m looking after you so lay back down, pull the blanket over you and have a rest while I heat our lunch. No arguments.” I pull the blankets back over me and lay down. “Good girl.”

  Hudson has been taking amazing care of me, he made me some soup, which was delicious and just what I needed and now we’re cuddled up on the sofa watching the evening news. It’s sad how most of the news is about terrible things these days. What happened to the good news, the stuff that uplifts your spirits and makes you proud to be a part of mankind? Seems it’s all wars and criminal actions these days, it’s so depressing.

  Hudson pulls me closer to him and I cuddle into his side. I love being close to him, even if I can’t kiss him, it still feels good that we can have our bodies connecting in some way. I’m wearing his super comfortable track pants and a jumper that’s two sizes too big for me. I used to wear the jumper when I was pregnant with Caiden so it would fit around my swollen belly and it has kind of been a favourite ever since. Even though I look like a complete bogan, Hudson still makes me feel beautiful.

  I look up at him and he smiles at me. “You okay?” he asks running his hand up and down my arm lovingly.

  I nod and smile. “I’m just so lucky to have you and thank you for the flowers, they truly are beautiful,” I say and he smiles and leans down toward me. I back away quickly and he groans and rests his head on the sofa. “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to infect you, but you know how badly I want to kiss you, right?”

  “Yeah, I know, I just look at you and totally forget you’re contagious. All I want to do is kiss you, but I guess I can hold out a couple more days. Just know that when you’re better I’m going to take full advantage,” he says leaning in and kissing my forehead.

  “I can’t wait,” I reply just as the doorbell rings.

  I look at Hudson and he’s furrowing his brows and looks as confused as I am.

  “You expecting anyone?”

  “No, not at all,” he says and I shift from his side and he stands up to answer the door. I stay in the lounge room. I hear the front door open and then a whole bunch of people singing happy birthday. I look toward the hall and stand up making my way to the commotion.

  Hudson is laughing as they finish their song. “What are you all doing here?” he asks as I approach.

  “We went to your office to surprise you and the boys said you stayed home today,” a man says.

  “Don’t go to my work. I’ve told you before, there’s bad people there and I’d hate for anything to happen to any of you, especially you,” he says and I round the corner and see him pulling up a little girl and hugging her.

  Everyone looks at me and gasps. There're three men, one older than the others. An older lady and the little girl. I tense up instantly thinking that this could be his family. Hudson follows their line of sight toward me. I instantly feel awkward because I don’t even know if he’s told them about me? And now I’m standing here in his house, dressed like a complete bogan and full of infestat
ion.

  Great!

  “Hi,” the older lady says and nods toward me breaking the silence.

  I smile, but Hudson speaks before I get the chance to. “Guys, this is my, umm—”

  “I’m Violet,” I interrupt, so he doesn’t have to use the ‘girlfriend’ word if he doesn’t want to. I know I live here and he loves me, but we have never made this thing official, so I don’t even know what to call us.

  The lady looks me up and down and smiles politely.

  “So, um… Vee, this is my parents, Flynn, Holden and my little sis, Brigitte,” he says while she clings onto his neck tightly and he holds onto her in a bear hug.

  “Hi everyone, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you all,” I say and the men are all grinning widely while his mother is looking at me and frowning. Brigitte is cuddled into Hudson hiding her face. She seems shy.

  “Well, I could say the same dear, but unfortunately we’ve heard nothing about you,” his mother says and I bite my bottom lip while Hudson looks at me and winces. I have no idea what to say so I wrap my arms around myself for comfort while the guys keep grinning at me. His brothers are just as good looking as he is. They’re both big men, with muscles bulging and I’m pretty sure they have tattoos as well. They both have brown hair and blue eyes. I look to his dad and he has the same blue eyes as his brothers. I glance at his mum and she has green eyes. I guess he really is a mixture of them both. But his mum has blonde hair and so does Brigitte, who is oddly tall for a ten-year-old. His dad isn’t half bad looking either and I smile seeing what Hudson will look like when he gets older.

  “Right, well this just got completely fucking awkward,” Holden says with a chuckle and Flynn fist pumps him.

  “Okay, well are we going to just stand at the front door all night?” his mum asks and I bite my bottom lip. I think I have my work cut out for me with this one.

  “Sorry, come in guys,” he says putting Brigitte down and she looks up at me and smiles, her eyes are green like her mother’s. She really is the cutest little thing.

  I stand back and let them walk past me and into the lounge room. Hudson looks at me and mouths, ‘I’m sorry,’ and I smile reassuring him. We walk into the lounge room and they see my tissues and empty soup bowls all over the coffee table and a blanket spread out on the sofa and his mum curls her lip up.

  “Sorry, I have a cold. I’ll clean this up for you,” I say and rush toward the coffee table to clean up the mess.

  “It’s fine we all get colds, hun. It doesn’t bother us, does it Fran?” his dad kindly says and I smile at him but pick up the mess anyway.

  “Who wants a drink?” Hudson asks as Brigitte sits in the corner with Midas patting him softly. I smile at her and she giggles slightly. I wonder why she’s giggling. I walk into the kitchen with the bowls and tissues and Hudson follows behind me. I put the bowls in the sink and the tissues in the bin and then turn to face him.

  “Should I change? I feel like I should be better dressed than this? I look disgusting,” I whisper to him and he chuckles.

  “You could never look disgusting. I think you look beautiful, don’t worry about it, and I’m sorry they showed up. I had no idea they were coming,” he whispers and I shrug.

  “It’s okay, I just don’t want to make a bad impression that’s all,”

  Holden walks in. “Hey bro, so you have a missus and you didn’t even tell us. What’s with that?”

  “Sorry I—”

  “It’s all good, I don’t give a fuck that you didn’t tell us. I’m just glad that you’re happy. You do make him happy right, Violet?” Holden asks and I tense up.

  “I hope so,” I say timidly. People don’t intimidate me… ever, but his big burly brother is making me nervous. Not in a bad way, but in a way that I really want to make a good impression.

  “Hold, leave her alone, and yes she makes me very happy,” he says making me smile as he comes over to me and pulls me to him.

  “That’s good. Now to the important stuff. Mum is going to kick your arse, big bro. You know she’ll be freaking out that you haven’t told her. I personally think freaking her out is fun, but you won’t have to be the one in the car with her on the ride home. So thanks for the surprise, but I guess we know why you stayed home, hey? Getting a little lovin’ on your b-day, bro. Good job,” he says putting his hand up for Hudson to high five.

  I open my eyes wide and smirk.

  “I’m not high fiving that. Plus, Vee is sick, so no lovin’ for me tonight. I stayed home to take care of her,” he replies.

  “Right… so how long have you two been… you know?”

  I look at Hudson, I have no idea what he wants me to say.

  “Six months.”

  Holden breaks out in a fit of laughter. “What the fuck, dude. Mum’s gonna slaughter you,” he says and I tense up.

  “I know, I should’ve told you guys. I just wanted Vee to be my little secret for a while, until we knew exactly where we stood with each other,” Hudson says.

  I look at him wondering if he hasn’t told them because I haven’t opened up to him and because he doesn’t know about my past. Perhaps he’s too scared to admit he’s seeing me in case I break his heart.

  I’m suddenly feeling a little dizzy. I sway in Hudson’s arms and he looks down at me. “Hey, you okay?”

  “Yeah, just a little dizzy.”

  “Hold, can you get the drinks, I need to get Vee to the sofa,” Hudson says and Holden nods.

  “Sure bro, look after your missus. I got this. I remember where everything is,” he says and I smile at him. He smiles back at me and I can see he is sincere in his approach, he really is happy for us, and I’m glad that someone in his family is.

  Hudson walks me back into the lounge room and his mother and father are sitting on the sofa. Flynn is looking out the window and Brigitte is playing with Midas in the corner near the fish bowl.

  “Huddy, you got another fish,” Brigitte calls out as we walk in.

  I smile as does Hudson and he nods as he places me on the sofa away from his parents.

  “Yeah, I did. I didn’t want him to get lonely,” Hudson says smiling at her and she smiles back brightly.

  I love that she calls him Huddy, it’s so cute, but I know she would be the only one to get away with calling him that.

  “So Violet. How’d you and my son meet?” his mother asks as Hudson sits down next to me.

  “We met after work one night at Amor. A bar in town,” I reply, looking at Hudson to see if I’ve said the right thing. He smiles reassuring me.

  “Right, and what do you do for a job?” she asks and I instantly tense up and my heart starts to race. I look at Hudson and before I have a chance to say anything Hudson starts talking.

  “Thanks for coming over guys. You really didn’t have to surprise me like this,” he says and I want to kiss him so badly right now. Even though I know how badly he wants to know my job, he knew I’d be uncomfortable answering that question, so he took the heat off me, and I will be forever grateful for that.

  “It’s your birthday, Hudson, and we haven’t seen you in so long. We thought we’d surprise you, but it seems the surprise is on us,” she says and I bite my bottom lip.

  “Mum c’mon, settle down. I was going to tell you, when the time was right,” Hudson says defensively.

  “Well, how long has this been going on? I mean she’s wearing your pants for God’s sake, Hudson. So it must be serious?”

  “Yeah, it is Mum, but I don’t have to tell you everything that’s happening in my life.”

  “Hudson, stop being so defensive. Fran, he didn’t tell us and there must be a reason. Maybe he doesn’t want to say in front of Violet, so let it go woman. You seriously worry too much. Just let our son live his life the way he wants to. He’s a smart kid. Just stop with the twenty questions and let’s enjoy our night with our son, okay?” his dad says and his mum crosses her arms over her chest and sits back into the sofa. I look at hi
s dad and he smiles and winks. I smile back just as Holden comes in with our drinks.

  “Brige, how’s school?” Hudson asks.

  She smiles and goes bright red. “Brige… what’s going on?” he asks and she shakes her head.

  “Not telling,” she says and looks away from him.

  He chuckles and shakes his head. “Okay, fine, you stubborn woman,” he says and she laughs and cuddles into Midas.

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about, Huddy Bear,” she replies and Flynn, Holden, his dad and I all chuckle.

  “Brige, how many times have I told you, don’t call me Huddy Bear. I’m thirty-three, I need to be tough and macho, kid.”

  She giggles. “Okay, Huddy Bear,” she teases and he rolls his eyes.

  “I’ll only let you get away with that because you’re so damned cute, but if Violet thinks I’m a teddy bear now I’m blaming you.”

  I chuckle and she rolls her eyes at him. “Do you kiss her?” she asks and he looks at me and I open my eyes wide.

  “Sometimes, yeah, why’s that?” he says and she crinkles her nose up.

  “Eww, Violet why would you want to kiss Huddy for?”

  “I don’t know, Brigitte. I think I’ll have to stop kissing him now I know how gross it is,” I joke and Hudson looks at me and puts his hand to his chest and fakes like he’s having a heart attack making Brigitte laugh hysterically.

  “You’re such an idiot, Huddy Bear.”

  “You are,” he replies and she laughs again.

  I love the interaction between him and his sister, it’s just like I thought it would be. I can tell he loves her so much and that warms my heart.

  “So Hudson, how’s your bike?” Flynn asks losing my attention. I look over at Brigitte and notice her smiling. So, I decide to try and make at least one friend tonight. I stand up and walk over and sit down on the floor next to her and start to pat Midas.