She had one more thing to tell him, but the moment slipped away, and she didn’t say it. Agnes’s hesitation left Tom in the dark-today was special, and she wished he could be there. But seeing him buried in his work, she swallowed her words. If she interrupted him now, she’d only feel guilty for being selfish.
Agnes stayed in bed until ten, not sleeping, just lying on his side, breathing in the faint trace of his scent. Her mind wandered, replaying every moment since they’d met. Did he feel anything for her? She still didn’t know.
When she finally got up, Mrs. Brown greeted her with a cheerful, “Agnes, what would you like to eat?” Oddly, despite her mood, she wasn’t hungry. Still, Agnes forced a small smile. “Anything’s fine. Whatever’s easy to make with what we’ve got.”
“Alright, I’ll get started. You go freshen up first.”
“Thanks.”
“No trouble at all.”
After washing up, Mrs. Brown handed her a bowl of tomato and egg noodles with liver. The smell was enough to bring her appetite back. Agnes sat at the table and started eating.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Brown snipped open a long package and pulled out a bouquet of yellow lilies.
“Mrs. Brown, did you buy flowers?”
“No, Tom did. He said they’d brighten the place and lift your spirits.” Mrs. Brown smiled as she worked. “We never used to keep flowers before.”
For her? That made Agnes feel a little better. She hesitated, then asked, “Mrs. Brown, did he say when he’d be back?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk much about work, and I don’t ask,” Mrs. Brown replied honestly. “I just keep the fridge stocked and the house clean, so it’s ready whenever he comes home.”
Agnes pressed, “How long does he usually stay away?”
“It varies-two days, three, sometimes a week. But it’s never just a quick trip. His job’s different.”
Agnes’s mood sank again. The noodles, so delicious moments ago, now tasted bland. She didn’t ask anything else and quietly finished her meal.
“Mrs. Brown, I’ll be in the study.”
“Alright. I’ll freshen up the flowers first,” Mrs. Brown said, still smiling. “These lilies smell wonderful.” She placed the trimmed flowers into a bucket of water. “I’ll bring them to you in a couple of hours.”
“Okay.”
Agnes went to the study and sat at his desk, turning on the computer he’d set up for her. But she couldn’t focus. Without him, everything felt hollow.
Her eyes drifted to the calendar beside her, landing on today’s date. She stared at it, lost in thought.