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“What if the child doesn’t want to take over from you?”
“We all have burdens in life, things we don’t want to do but things we must. This is one of those things.”
“So they will have no choice?”
“It will not be until I am old and gray.”
“You already are.”
I swat her ass while loading her into the back of the car. “I am not too old to put you in my lap and punish you for your sass.”
“All right, Grandad.”
I swat her again as I climb inside. “Any more talk like that and you’ll be eating with no dress on at all.”
“I’m sure all those burly mafia men would like that.” I feel a flare of jealousy at the thought of them looking at her half naked. She laughs. “Caught up in your own jealousy?”
“Enough.”
Her smile fades. “I was only teasing.”
I say nothing. I don’t like how well she can read me. How she makes me want to smile, to laugh.
The car sets off. My driver moves swiftly toward the city center. Mila makes small talk and I respond but my mind is elsewhere.
It’s become clearer to me as the days have gone by and now I need to decide how to tell her. She isn’t leaving. I cannot let her leave. I can no longer imagine a life without my wife beside me.
I have a contract, signed by both of us, giving her the freedom she so badly craves. Yet, I want to break the contract. If I do, what could she do about it? Apart from never trust me again.
“You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said for about ten minutes,” she tells me out of nowhere, shaking my shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“You can’t keep saying that whenever I try to get close to you. I’m your wife. Let me share your burden.”
I turn and look and see those warm encouraging eyes, the hatred gone from them.
“Would you stay with me if I asked you to?”
She blinks in shock. “I don’t know. Is that the kind of thing you’re likely to ask?”
“I’m considering it.”
“Honestly? I might. There would have to be a few changes though.”
“You dare ask me for conditions?”
“If I’m staying, I need more freedom.”
“What kind of freedom?”
“A car of my own. The ability to go shopping without your goons breathing down my neck. Hell, the freedom to take a walk outside the grounds of your estate would be a start.”
“Anything else?”
“You share what you’re thinking about from time to time, don’t leave me wondering what’s going on in that head of yours.”
“You would not like to hear about my business, trust me.”
