It doesn't take long to reach the Druid's mansion. I've calmed down a lot since storming out of the office - figures... but I can't turn back now. No, I can't.
My life isn't the same from the days of not caring about my reputation, I have in-laws - who are not impressed.
The maid leads me to the living room and tells me to wait comfortably as she goes to call Madam Druid. I've been here a couple of times before and Sebastian's mother likes me...used to probably - I'm not sure, we haven't met since the engagement broke. In this family, I have better chances at getting what I want with her than anyone else... I hope.
This pressure I'm feeling, from Fin's sudden change...I'm afraid, I feel like I'm back to that little girl, waking up alone and walking in the dark for a glass of water, falling...all alone.
I admit, I don't know him that well but knowing his favourite colour isn't the same as...as how I feel about him. He...
Did I disappoint him?
Mikayla!
"Trent, what a lovely surprise." Madam Druid is the kind of lady you can't help but admire. She's nice that way yet her son...and daughter-in-law,
"Madam Druid, I'm sorry do drop by unannounced." You can't choose your family, I'd know.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm not busy anyway...come, sit. Tell me, what can I do for you?" Right.
After what happened, I cut off all communications with her, the awkwardness and not knowing how to proceed...
"It's about Mikayla..." I pass her the file.
Alright, maybe I didn't think this through and let my emotions get the better of me, Argh...I'm feeling bad dropping this on her when she's been nothing but kind to me previously... today's been strange.
I have to have a talk with Fin.
"She did all this?" she's still reading through the file,
"I told Sebastian not to rush into anything, I'm really sorry. I...I don't know what to say." her hands are shaking as she keeps flipping through the pages.
I can understand, Mikayla's persistence in finding trouble with me for no apparent reason leaves one... speechless. Simply for the scorn of a jealous wife? Can it be that simple?
"I don't mean to trouble you but, I can't go on like this. If she doesn't stop, I'll have to press charges against her. This is why I came to you...before my husband takes mattes into his own hands." and he will or his family will, from the looks of it, no one wants that.
Maybe it's the reason why I came here today, a part of me doesn't want to find out Fin's ways of handling things... I'm scared of him or what he's capable of doing?
"H-husband...you got married?" Ah...She doesn't keep in touch with the outside world, how would she know?
"That's good, that's really good. You deserve to be happy. I'm sorry it didn't work out with my son though."
What to say...
"Don't worry. I'll talk to her. This is insane."
"I'll leave then. I'm really sorry to bother you with this."
The maid sees me out and we meet Mikayla and Sebastian at the door. Fabulous!
"You're here?"
"Why are you here?" The say at the same time. Figures, birds of a feather...
"I was here looking for your wife but found your mom instead. As you can imagine, I had to be honest with her...aunt has always treated me like her own." I'm spouting nonsense... Their faces will do that to.
"You...what did you say to my mother?" He leans to grab my hand and I take a step back.
"Have you forgotten what Fin said so soon?" Too soon... is he really brave or plain stupid? I'm sure Fin knows where I am and what I'm doing.
The implications of that... like I said, I need to talk to Fin, ASAP.
"Can I talk to your wife, alone?" if I'm going to curb whatever this is with Mikayla, I can't ignore her. Might as well have a chat... it's long overdue.
"Trent..."
"It's okay babe... I'll be right in."
Sebastian gives me a long look before leaving us alone. What... I'm not a monster! I said talk and I mean talk! What can I possibly do to her...draw her? How frightening... give me a break!
"So..?" Mikayla says bringing my stare from Sebastian's residing back to her.
If she smiled a little more and hasn't been after me, I'd call her pretty. What drives someone to this amount of resentment?
"What?" I'm staring...
"I don't think I've met you before. I don't understand what's driving you to do the things you're doing to me." I really don't, I honestly do not. Maybe she's a fated enemy of mine, all our lifetimes we'll never see eye to eye - probably not but who knows?
"What are you talking about?" Really - maintain innocence even at this point?
"Mikayla, the fashion show, the rumours, the gala, all of it, you're out to get me and I don't know you. Is your life really boring? I'm curious, what drives your madness?"
Her face stays passive through out my whole speech until she hears madness and it cracks - contorts. How ugly.
"Why shouldn't I, why shouldn't I drive you mad like how you did my sister!" she bursts out. What? Sister and that too me?
"All she wanted was to work with you and you...you humiliated her, in front of everyone...mocking her! Why couldn't you simply reject her?" Huh?
"You ruined her. You drove her mad! You. How dare you say you've never seen me, my sister is my twin... identical twin. You ruined her life and...forgot?" Me?
Nothing like that ever happened. Seriously... I'm innocent! What she's saying and what happened are so far apart, I don't know what she's talking about. Ruin... humiliate... drove mad... What?
"You deserve all I'm doing to you and so much more. You deserve what you did to her!"
I'm stunned. Ha. Chris was right after all. It has to do with that girl, the girl who gifted me dead mice and...I drove her mad, I ruined her life, I humiliated her? What?
There's a meeting waiting for me at my house, with my parents and my husband about the mess she's created... possibly my in-laws on their way too. For this?
Fin and I's relationship - well, that can't be blamed on her, the honeymoon stage was going to pass anyway but...because of her it ended ahead of schedule. Ridiculous!
"That never happened." I can't believe I can stay calm in all this ridiculousness - her sister's situation isn't ridiculous if all that happened but to blame it on me?
"What?"
"Your sister approached me for collaboration and I rejected it, that's it. There was no humiliation, no clowning, none of it."
"You're lying!"
"I don't care what you believe, it's what happened. Go to the police and ask. They have the report. It's your sister who started harassing me." Do I look like some villain or a psychopath - going around tormenting people for kicks of it?
How ridiculous.
Something went wrong with her sister and she's looking for someone to blame...
Not me, I firmly refuse.
"You're lying!"
"Your choice. But I'm telling you now, going after my husband, you're seeking death. He's off limits...
"If you want to be crazy, be someone's problem. I've entertained you enough...
"Next I can a whiff, and I mean a miniscule whiff of your tricks, trust me... I'll be the nightmare you're accusing me to be." I leave her mumbling you're lying, you're lying to herself.
It only needed a click of the tongue to portray just how annoyed I am.
Should I sympathize with what she's going through? I'm not sure...I can't say it doesn't bother me. I told you before, super-hyper sensitive... The love she has for her sister to be willing to that for her, avenge her - misguided as she is but to have that...must be nice. Isn't it?
I miss Mama Jewel suddenly...her custard when I'm having a bad day. Am I terrible for leaving things the way I did?
Don't answer. I know the truth myself.
The real question is, will I brave through my discomfort to tell Fin how I feel about what happened yesterday and today and his mother's phone call...her tone. Will I? I don't know. I don't want to. I want us to stay like we are, I don't want anything to change but... I'm uncomfortable.
I like this time of day, the sun going down and a wink remaining, if you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of more colours than orange. I'm not today... There's this little cafe downtown in Bronze, I love to come when I'm feeling out of sorts, they have the best view of the sunrise...somehow, the owner says it's magic and the reason he bought the place.
I'm here now, I came here straight from the Druid's place. How many chocolate muffins I've eaten... I'm avoiding going home. I can't avoid it all night but...a couple of hours to myself...
Do you think I made a mistake marrying Fin? Was my dad right?
I like him, I really do but... I'm afraid too especially after last night and this morning...
Suddenly, he doesn't seem steady and safe but...a huge wall closing in on me. Am I overreacting? - Probably. The feeling is there though...
Sigh.
I can't avoid it forever.
"Miss, we're closing." Oh?
Might as well, honesty is the best policy...right?
Everyone's there when I get home, including Fin. I never realised my parents were this free. They're glaring at Fin, barely reigning their tempers. My father more so...with his clenched fists.
What now?
"What's wrong?" I pass glances at all of them, they remain silent even attention-revolting Lydia stays quiet. What now...
"What is it?"
"Ask your husband! The savage you've brought into our lives. Ask him, ask him what he said! He...He..." Her breath shortens.
"What?" I direct the question to Fin this time.
"Nothing's serious, I just told them to stay away from us until the baby's born but by then, we'll be in Country C." What?
"You what?"
"We're newlyweds, don't you think we need our space?" Well...yeah but...
"And you'll be newlyweds with us here still. There's plenty of space. I'm not leaving my daughter alone with you!"
Wrong thing to say, really...
"Oh...haven't you always left her alone, why's your maternal instincts kicking in now...when she's married?" Ah... I'm pretty sure he's not allowed to say that, no matter what, that's not for him to say - right?
My mother staggers back, her face pale.
"Fin, can we talk...alone?"
I don't wait for his reply, I leave the room without looking back.
Why does it seem he's trying to take over my life all of a sudden? Is this what husband's do?