Edith didn’t believe a word Justin said.
His ankle was scraped raw–how could that not hurt?
She carefully dabbed antiseptic on the wound, then smoothed a layer of white ointment over it.
Because the skin was broken, Edith kept worrying she might be causing him pain. Every time she applied a bit of ointment, she looked up to study his expression, searching for any sign of discomfort.
Each time she glanced up, Justin’s eyes met hers.
After several awkward exchanges, Edith started to feel the air between them shift in a peculiar way.
Her focus wavered. Just then, the car jolted over a speed bump, and the sudden movement made her lose her grip–a cotton swab jabbed right into Justin’s fresh bruise.
Edith stared in horror at Justin’s pained expression and rushed to apologize. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—”
Justin’s brow furrowed. He turned toward the driver. “Mrs. Hawksley’s in the car. Mind the road, please.”
The driver glanced back, contrite. “I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. Hawksley. I’m not familiar with this route, so I didn’t brake in time for the speed bump.”
Edith shook her head, brushing off the apology. She looked down at Justin’s ankle–the spot she’d accidentally poked was already turning red and swollen.
Guilt gnawed at her. She was still floundering for words when Justin gently took her hand and pulled her upright.
“Edith, you never have to apologize to me–especially not for something as minor as this,” he said, voice steady despite his injury.
He rolled down the cuff of his suit pants and took the swab from her
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14:30
hand, as if he were the one comforting her. “With the ointment, it’ll heal in no time.”
They rode the rest of the way back to the Hawksley Estate in silence.
Edith had expected a house full of relatives, but the place was strangely quiet–not even Father Benedict and Sarah were around.
Justin noticed her confusion and explained, “There’s not much going on at the company right now, so they decided to take a trip. They made sure all the guests were settled, then headed straight to the airport. Their flight’s already departed.”
So, they’d gone on vacation.
Edith nodded. “How long will they be gone?”
Justin considered for a moment, brows knitting together. “At least six months, probably longer.”
“Six months?” Edith was surprised. “That long?”
She’d imagined there’d be a flurry of traditions–the morning after the wedding, tea to the elders, all the rituals she’d been told were customary. But with everyone gone, all those expectations vanished.
Justin shrugged. “They said not to bother them until there are grandkids.”
Kids?
Edith’s cheeks flushed, embarrassment flickering across her face. But then, an odd heaviness settled in her chest.
Given her own situation, she thought wryly, Father Benedict and Sarah might never have to come back.
She stood in her red satin dress, her gaze distant.
Outside, the summer breeze swept through the grounds of Hawksley Estate, casting flickering shadows through the thick canopy of trees. The dappled light fell across half her face, the other half hidden in shade.
Justin frowned, suddenly realizing he’d said the wrong thing.
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He tried to recover, but struggled to find the right words. After a long pause, he finally said, “Edith, my parents were among the first to study abroad. They’re open–minded, not bound by tradition.”
Edith nodded. She had to admit, that much was true.
Justin went on, “They’d never pressure us to have kids.”
He hesitated, then added for emphasis, “They’ve made it clear, since long ago–children were never a requirement.”
Some of the tension in Edith’s chest eased.
Yet new questions rose up, quietly, in the space left behind.
VE
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.