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“You’re the boss, I guess. But you could kill yourself getting down too, saving us both the trouble. I guess we could consider that a viable option three.”
She huffed dramatically and lifted the rope from around her neck. She let it go, placed her hand on her hip, and then nodded at the bottle of liquor at her feet. “Option four, you hand me the bottle and I’ll let you help me down.”
He eyed the bottle and let out a hard sigh. “I hand you that bottle and you’re getting down yourself.”
“Fine.”
Myles did as he’d agreed and placed the bottle in her hands. Then he put the tools back in their place, fled up the stairs, and took a long cold shower.
An hour later he went back down to the barn and found his new boss sitting on the table he’d left her standing on. She took a slow swig as she watched him come toward her. The table was fairly high, even at six-foot-two, he had to hop in order to perch himself beside her. He stared straight ahead as he spoke. “Trouble getting down, huh.”
She placed the bottle between her legs. “Something like that.”
A long pause had hung in the air before she spoke again. “I’m not crazy, you know.”
“That’s not for me to determine…”
“My husband left me.”
“It happens.”
“Not to me it doesn’t.”
He looked at her then. She was rather beautiful, he thought. Though definitely not his type. “The fact that you’re stuck on top of a table, drunk, and trying to kill yourself begs to differ with that sentiment.”
She turned toward him then and smiled a little. “Addison sent you didn’t she?”
“If Addison is Mrs. Hartman, then yes.”
“Myles, did you say it was?” she asked a puzzled look upon her face.
“Last time I checked.”
“I think I need your help getting down.”
Myles didn’t respond, he simply hopped up and scooped her into his arms. With few words between them, he managed to find her bedroom, place her in bed, and tuck her in. Sleep it off, he thought. You’ll feel better in the morning. Myles broke the first two of many rules that night. One, he entered the main house, and two, he found he actually gave a damn. It also wouldn’t hurt to mention—that night, he slept like a baby.
Chapter Seven
Jess ran the wet washcloth over her face once more and peered at her reflection in the mirror. Not too bad, she thought. Considering. She reached for one of the orange bottles on her bathroom counter, picked it up, and studied the contents. She’d need a refill soon. Hadn’t she just had this one filled? It was hard to say she finally decided. Each day as of late seemed not all too different from the one previous. Maybe she should do a better job at tracking her usage… she considered.
Jess popped two pills in her mouth and swallowed. She placed a glass underneath the tap, filled it, and quickly rinsed the bitter aftertaste away. Better. It wouldn’t be long and she’d feel better. She checked her reflection once more. Today is a new day. Today was going to be the first day of her new life, she decided. Since she’d attempted suicide and survived, she assured herself what better time than now, than today, to make a fresh start. Yes, a plan! Why hadn’t she seen this sooner? A plan was exactly what she needed. Jess considered this for a moment and promptly began frantically searching her bathroom and then her bedroom for a pen. She turned everything inside out and upside down looking. How hard was it to find a bloody pen in this place?
Upon hearing the commotion, one of the maids peeked in, her hand instinctively flew to her chest as she surveyed the contents of the room turned astray.
“May I help you with something madam?” the girl asked gently.
Jess straightened herself and eyed the mess she’d just created. “Yes. I would really like a pen. And a notepad.” She inhaled deeply. “Oh… and what time is it? Have the children left for school yet?”
“No, ma’am. They’re down for breakfast. It’s just seven o’clock.”
“Wonderful, then let them know I’ll be driving them today.”
The maid met Jessica’s gaze just briefly then nodded before lowering her gaze back down to the floor and closing the door behind her.
This was wonderful! The day was already shaping up well. Jess didn’t need a pen or a notepad, she decided. The plan had already begun taking shape in her mind. First, she would drive the kids to school, and then she would attend her first yoga class since… well, since… before.
It was time. She would get back to her regular routine, get herself in shape again, and then surely, Spencer would come back. She silently chided herself for not seeing things so clearly all along. It had been a week and a half since Spencer had walked out of their bedroom and seemingly, right out of her life. And Jess found that she missed him more than she considered she might that afternoon as she watched him pack his bags. She should’ve fought harder. He would’ve stayed, if only she’d asked.
