Chapter 40
1521words
"Em, are you okay?" William asked, tugging at my hand, and I turned to look at him,
"I'm fine. I just saw some ghosts, that's all." I said and turned to look at Paris and Kate for Emphasis.
"Oh. Them." he said, and frowned, then shook his head, "seeing them was somewhat inevitable I suppose." he added, and took my hand in his, as we all approached each other.
As we got closer, Paris' gaze traveled to the point of our locked hand and I saw the anger, as well as the questions in his eyes.
"What are the both of you doing here?" he asked when we were finally mere inches away from each other. Although crossing paths being inevitable was true, just as William said, I found myself wishing that I could have avoided him
"Your grandfather is sick, Paris. I'm here to see him." I said and looked from him to Kate-who looked very smug-then back to him,
"and you had to bring him?" he asked, gesturing at William with uncovered resentment,
"William is my friend and has decided to be a supportive one at that. It's after work hours, and I'd like to rest as soon as I can, so forgive me if I can't stand here and chat." I said, and wanted to sidestep them, but Paris blocked my path.
"it hasn't even been close to three months and you're already walking around with a new man."
"says the man who found his mate while we were married and ignored me while he showered her with endless love," I said, jutting out my chin, righteously pissed at the audacity of the man to call me out when his sins were far greater. The evidence of all he had done to me, right beside him looking like she had worn in life.
"Kate is my mate, unlike this bloke, who you are just using to satisfy your needs, or perhaps it is he, who is using you."
I felt a nerve twitch in my left upper eye and told myself that I didn't have to deal with him. But still, I stood there. Still, I confronted him,
"you're quite vile," I said, my irritation slipping through.
"at least I'm honest with myself."
"Just get lost," William said, tugging my hand to make us leave, but I still stayed and looked at Paris in the eyes. With the past few weeks of him trying to get on my good side, I had almost deluded myself that he was having a change of heart. I was wrong.
"honest with yourself? Are you, Paris, honest with yourself? Is that the lie you tell yourself at night, to help you fall asleep?"
"At least he doesn't have to seduce me to make me stay," Kate said, and I slowly turned to look at her. I had almost forgotten she was there.
"if you only knew half of it," I said and decided I was done with both of them.
Paris was a liar, and Kate was a naïve whore, and neither of them was worth the energy I didn’t even have, to begin with.
I let William pull me along after that, but noticed that Paris and Kate were behind us,
"They are following us." I said through gritted teeth."
"I know," William said, and rounded on them,
"What's your problem? Why not let us be?"
"I'm not allowed to leave my sick grandfather with a bunch of strangers," he said and I rolled my eyes, took William's hand, and led us to the house. The sooner I met my grandfather, the sooner I could be away from this annoying pack land.
"Ember!" Grandfather cried when he saw me and got up from his reclining chair to hug me,
"Hi Granddad, you really shouldn't be on your feet," I said, as I hugged him right back.
"Oh, don't you start on me? I'm as fit as a fiddle, and just need an excuse to see you. You don't visit anymore."
I looked at him sadly. Since Paris and I separated, I hadn't been in contact with him and didn't stop to think about the impact of my choice.
That was very wrong of me.
"I'm sorry, granddad. I promise I'll do better in the future." I sad and helped him back onto the recliner, before taking a seat beside him,
For courtesy sake, William had opted to stay outside, and I couldn't fight him on changing his mind.
"Granddad, although Em isn't always going to be around, be rest assured that I'll be here, at your beck and call, should you need even as little as someone fluffing your pillows."
Grandfather raised uninterested eyes at the flattering woman, and nodded once,
"thank you, Kate, that's very sweet of you," he said with a tone that said otherwise, and I fought my smile when Kate looked confused that her pretenses weren't applauded.
At least one member of this family was able to see clearly and right through Kate's facade.
"so, what have you been up to?" Grandfather asked, turning back to me and his excitement was back,
"Well, I work as a manager of this nice company, and I like it. Everything about it to be honest."
"I can just imagine. Little Em bunny, walking around in work pants, with a tag on her shirt that says 'manager' " I laughed because he was almost very accurate. Aside from the tag, I had an ID card instead.
"something like that. " I said with a broad smile, one of the maids came in to announce Grandfather's supper, and he turned to me with an outstretched hand,
"eat a meal with me, just like old times." I smiled and took his hand,
"Of course," I said and made him smile back...
"The soup is nice, Grandfather," Kate said when we were at the table, and the man shrugged,
"you be sure to let the steward know," he said offhandedly, and I wondered if the woman was so oblivious that she couldn't tell that Grandfather wasn't having any of her bull crap
"Ah, you all started without me." Luna Lara announced, and I couldn't help the way I rolled my eyes. Grandfather caught it and only smiled.
"Daddy, how are you feeling? Better?" Luna Lara asked and bent low to kiss her father's cheek, before sitting beside him,
"Kate darling, do you come to see Daddy? "Luna Lara asked, her eyes shining with the love she never looked at me with.
"I did," Kate said happily,
"so did Ember." Grandfather said, sounding pleased and Luna Lara just frowned,
"Of course, Ember," Lara replied, as though she wished I could be anywhere else but there. She couldn't even hide her dislike.
"I've told her to visit often, seeing as she something of a breath of fresh air to me." the grandfather said, beaming at me, and I smiled under his appraisal, "should be something of a breath of fresh air to Paris as well, seeing as she's his actual wife. But the damned boy's walking with his eyes closed. " the grandfather said, and we were all quiet.
"Kate's always here though." Luna Lara said
"Funny how she said the same thing. But the truth is, I'd rather have my fresh air," he said, still smiling at me, and I caught the way both Lara and Kate looked as though they hated me passionately.
Just as well, because they were just going to have to deal with it.
I stayed a while after supper, and Grandfather had his drugs and was ready to sleep.
"you keep your word, now, Em bunny," he said, as one of the maids came to help to his room,
"I will," I said and hugged him.
"I can handle it. I can handle it," he told the maid, who made a fuss while trying to lead him to his room, and I found myself laughing as I made my way out of the house. Grateful I had come, despite all of the opps.
"you're done?" William asked when I met him outside the house, and I nodded as I took his hand,
"Sorry, I kept you this long."
"It's fine. I get you all to myself now. Well, until I get you home."
I smiled up at him, grateful he had come,
“Yes. Yes, you do.”
A couple of days later, I had the draft for my divorce papers to Paris, and this time around, I told myself that nothing. Absolutely nothing would keep me from ending things with that man.
We met at a restaurant over dinner, where I presented the draft to him over food, and after reading a couple of lines, he looked up at me with an unreadable expression,
"This is what you invited me out for, today?"
"did you think it was a love thing?" I asked, angrily, and he handed the document back to me,
"I was unsure what it was. But then again, I'm supposed to not be surprised."
"Exactly."
"But tell me this, Em. Is this truly what you want?"
