Chapter 20: 20.

ARTEMIS

I was back at my parents’ house the next day. I had to get away from Kieran and his antics. I didn’t think I could manage another one of his teases.

If I thought I couldn’t sleep after my fight with him, last night showed me what a sleepless night truly meant.

I could feel him against my skin, feel his breath against my neck, and my wrist still tingled where he held me against the wall. I knew I had to leave the house because I was being haunted by Kieran’s face everywhere.

I knew I needed to leave the house and get busy, so I left the house and came to my parents so I could get busy.

My dad had left the house before I arrived. My mother said he went to make some deliveries to some of their customers. Ares had left as well to see a friend since he had nothing else to do, so it was just me and Mom at home.

She had a lot of work to do when I arrived, so I changed into simple working clothes and joined her in cleaning the farm. This was the first time I was doing chores like this since they opened the farm when I was already married to Van, but I found it easy to pick up on how to clean the farm.

We worked side by side, cleaning the farm. We were halfway done when Mom placed a hand over mine to stop me from brushing the floors.

“You look better,” she said with a soft smile.

“Better?” I asked, dropping the brush and allowing her to pull me to the chair nearby so we could sit.

“Yes, baby,” She confirmed with a smile, “You look happier than you were married. With that man, it was always fake smiles when you came over, you were always tensed, scared, and never stayed long.”

“Mama,” I blinked away the tears. I wasn’t crying for the memories of what Van did to me, but to them. They had suffered enough, but all she still cared about was my happiness.

She took my hands in hers, “I don’t know much about that man or why your father doesn’t want you associating with him, but I would like to thank him personally. It’s been so long since I saw a genuine smile on your face. For that alone, he has my gratitude.”

I swallowed thickly and forced a smile, “I’ll let him know you said that.” Thought I didn’t know if Kieran would come to a place like this, but I couldn’t dampen her mood by telling her the truth.

“Please do so,” She said, wiping her hands down her apron and standing up. “If he decides to come over, I’ll kill the biggest fish we have and cook him some good home meals I am sure he would enjoy,”

“Okay,” I told her, and we continued working. I noticed she had something else to say with how hesitant she was, so I decided to ask her.

“Is there something else, Mom?” I dropped the cloth I was using to wipe the windows, “You’ve been glancing at me,”

She sighed, “I saw the news on the television.”

I froze. I had forgotten to tell her about it. I know I told them to watch out and trust me, but  I still should have reached out.

She walked in front of me and took my hands, “Are you sure of what you are doing? Getting engaged as soon as you are divorced. It’s all over the internet. These people are saying nasty things about you. I don’t like the harsh words they are using. They don’t know what you’ve been through to judge you like that,” Tears slipped down her face.

“They can say whatever they want. I don’t care,” I told her, repeating the same thing Kieran had drilled into me.

“Do you love him? Is that why you are willing to take these insults?” She asked bluntly.

I did a double-take. Love? What made her think that? That word was too fragile to be thrown around, especially not between Kieran and me. What did she see to assume that?

“No,” I quickly shook my head, “It’s not like that. I don’t love him. The marriage is a contract one. It’s going to last for a year.”

Mom’s lips parted in shock. “A contract?” she stammered, “You mean all of this isn’t real?”

I nodded miserably, “I know it isn’t…”

“Artemis,” She shook her head, and I couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or sad, “Why would you do something like this?”

“Mama, please,” My voice cracked, “You can’t tell anyone. It has to stay within our family. I’m not sure Kieran even told his family that this is fake,”

She shook her head, “This doesn’t sit right with me. Marriage is sacred, Arty. It’s not something to take so casually,”

“But I don’t have that luxury. This is the only and fastest way to get back on our feet,” I told her with tears in my eyes. “Please, mama. I need you to trust me for once,”

She said nothing at all, but finally sighed, “I don’t like it, but I trust you so I’ll keep your secret. You have to promise me that you’ll be careful,”

I nodded, “I will. Thank you, mama,” I hugged her tightly, relief coursing through me.

“You’ve been through so much,” she pulled back to cup my cheeks with her frail hands, “I want you to be happy. Don’t always think of us, put yourself first sometimes. We will be fine,”

“I’m doing this for you all. I can’t be happy if you are not happy,” I told her and kissed her cheeks.

She let the matter rest, because she knew that was not an argument she could win. We went back to our work, and completed it within two hours.

I couldn’t help but think of mom’s words. Did I really know what I was doing?