Veronica
I don’t know how long I sat in the chapel like that, but by the time I got back to the house, a single light was left on over the stove and Stefan’s car was gone. Charlie was the only one waiting for me. The moment I opened the door, he nudged his little nose around the corner, and I bent to pick him up and hug him to me.
What had happened in the last three weeks? Had it been in those weeks that Stefan had come to the realization he didn’t want this? Didn’t want me? Or was this the truth all along? Was I just blind?
I really thought he’d cared about me.
No, more than that.
I thought he loved me.
A sudden chill made me shudder, and I carried Charlie up to my bedroom.
When Stefan had stood like he had, with me kneeling at his feet, when he’d looked at me, I’d seen something so strange in his eyes. So at odds with what he was saying. At least for one single and very fleeting moment.
Once inside my room, I set Charlie down. He circled my legs twice then looked up at me with his big puppy-dog eyes. I bent to pet him, and he took a finger in his mouth and gently tried to tug me toward the bed.
“You go ahead, sweetie. I can’t sleep yet.”
He whined, and I swear he knew I was hurting, but when I straightened, he went to the bed and hopped up on his own. He was growing.
I walked into the bathroom and fished Stefan’s wedding ring out of my pocket. Studying it, I touched my thumb to the sharp thorns along the inside of the band. I turned on the water and rinsed it, cleaning off the blood before setting it on the edge of the sink. I then slipped mine off my finger and put it down beside his.
Gripping the edge of the sink, I doubled over, feeling like I would vomit, feeling like something deep inside my belly needed to be expelled. Thrown up. But there was nothing. Nothing but tears, thick and heavy. Although I knew no one could hear me, I covered my mouth against my sobs and wept for what seemed like an eternity until finally, I was dried out, nothing left inside me.
He didn’t love me.
He didn’t want me.
He wanted me to believe this whole thing had been a game to him, but I couldn’t. Not when I remembered his face down in the cellar, not when I’d felt his hand on my cheek as he told me he didn’t love me. That he was tired of me. What had he said? Tired of his virgin girl?
A sudden surge of energy ripped through me and I slapped at the rings, sending them flying to opposite corners. I turned on the water and washed my face before meeting my reflection, my eyes red and puffy.
“All this is the past. You’re the past.”
My heart ached at the memory of his words. I was angry and humiliated, and I just felt so sad. For him. For me. Because in a way, he was right. And I had been right. He had to let the past go for it to let him go. Maybe he had no choice. But how did I come out as collateral damage? I’d thought it would be different. I’d thought this thing that had started out so ugly had turned into something beautiful. A lasting love.
I gripped the hair on either side of my head and pulled.
I needed to go. To get out of here. I couldn’t see him again. I couldn’t be in the same house. It was just too painful. I found my phone, and although it was late, I dialed a local taxi service and arranged for someone to pick me up within half an hour. My phone was low on battery, so I plugged it into the charger and began to pack. I’d just take a duffel bag of essentials. My priority right now was getting out of there.
Twenty minutes later, I called Charlie, who raised his head and came when I opened the door. I checked my purse for the key my grandfather had given me. It was right where I’d left it, in the little zipper on the side. As quietly as I could, I went down the stairs. Although Stefan’s car was gone, I wasn’t sure if Eric was somewhere on site or if he’d come back. But I didn’t run into anyone as I made my way blindly through the living room, into the kitchen and out the door, where I walked down the mile-long gravel path toward the front entrance of the property.
When I got there, the taxi was waiting. I opened the back door, and Charlie jumped in ahead of me. After dragging my duffel in behind me, I settled Charlie on my lap and told the driver where I was going. Kingston Winery. Luckily, he knew exactly where it was, because I didn’t remember, and within a few minutes, we were out of sight of Stefan’s house.
It was Saturday night. No one would be working tomorrow, so I’d have the day to plan what I wanted to do and get things sorted out for myself. I would spend the night in my mother’s old bedroom with her ghost for company. We were twenty minutes down the road when I realized I hadn’t grabbed my phone off the charger. In my rush, I’d forgotten it.
I sat back in the seat. No way was I going back for it. I wouldn’t get lucky not getting caught leaving twice. Although it’s wasn’t like Stefan wanted me to stay. Hell, he’d probably be pleased I was making this so easy for him. I shook my head, banishing all thoughts of him.