“I’ll see you later.” I reached up on my toes and kissed his cheek.
He looked at me, astonished. I took that as my moment to get away. I turned and set off on the stone path behind the house.
I made my way into the back yard, if you can even call it that. I was struck by how beautiful it was. To the left of the house was a large pool with a small house next to it. On the other side of the large yard was a bench overlooking the river. I made my way over there and sat. The view was beautiful. From this height, it was easy to forget the real world down there and all the problems that still waited for me when all this was over.
Because that was the thing, as much as I was enjoying my time with Raph, and as much as I didn’t want it to end, it would. Then I would have to find a way to pay for everything. This was just so I could heal and get back on my feet, then I would be on my own again.
A gentle breeze came from the west. I looked over and saw some tall hedges around an archway. I decided to make my way over and check it out.
When I walked under the archway, I entered the most beautiful rose garden I’d ever seen. All around were big, beautiful roses in full bloom. I was tempted to pluck one and bring it inside, but something about this place felt like more than a mere garden.
“What are you doing in here?”
I turned and saw Victor. “Oh, hi! I’m just exploring. It really is beautiful in here. Did you plant all of these?”
He didn’t answer right away, but then he slowly shook his head.
“What kind of roses are these?” I asked as I ran my hand over some big, beautiful red roses, careful not to touch any thorns.
“Mr. Renault doesn’t like people in the rose garden.”
“What?”
“No one is allowed in here, ma’am.”
“Please call me Belle,” I said.
“Okay, Belle. Mr Renault gets angry when people are in here. I’m only allowed in here for upkeep.”
“Are you asking me to leave?”
He didn’t say yes, but it was clear that is what he wanted.
Sometimes I forget that the Raphael I get is not the Beast most people get. I turned and started my way back up to the house. I didn’t want to make Victor uncomfortable.
“Have a good day, Victor.”
“You too,” he said with relief coloring his tone.
Dinner that night felt different.We ate in the living room, as we had been. He had insisted I sit while he plated everything, even though I could stand longer now without wobbling.
“I need to get back to the basement tomorrow,” I said, cutting into my chicken. “And I should start cooking regularly again. Not just light dinners. The full plan.”
He didn’t look up immediately.
“You still have three weeks remaining before you return to activity.”
“I’m not going to be running drills or anything.”
“You’ll be weight-bearing.”
“I’ve been weight-bearing.”
He set his fork down carefully. “The physician recommended limited strain.”
“And I’m ready,” I countered. “I can take breaks. I just . . . I need to.” The words felt heavier than the argument. “I need the money.”
There it was. The practical truth beneath everything.
