AllFreeNovel
Share Us
XENIA
My date on Friday cementsmy depression. Francis is everything I should enjoy in a man. He shows interest in my life. His stories are funny and warm. He doesn’t need to put other people down to lift himself up. He seems perfect.
Yet, I keep thinking of Tommy. Where is he right now? What might he feel if he saw me with Francis?
Tommy’s shown zero romantic interest in me. He called me “pretty” one time, yet I act as if he’s in love with me.
Despite how I’m building another fruitless dream, I can’t fight the feeling that I’m cheating on Tommy by spending time with Francis.
When Velma asks about the date, I don’t know what to say. Her grandson should have won me over. I think I did a good job of engaging despite my thoughts being elsewhere. However, I’m afraid to build up Velma’s expectations. I felt the same way with Francis.
Early Saturday morning, I’m awakened by sounds of yowling in the field just behind the guesthouse. I don’t have the sense to ignore it. Stepping into the high grass, I discover a gray-and-tan striped cat hiding in an old tree.
Needing something to focus on, I rush to the store to pick up cat food. I return to find her still hiding and occasionally yowling.
She settles down once she eats. I think she might be pregnant.
“Should I take her to the vet?” I ask Velma.
“Wild cats run around back there all the time. Don’t waste your time fussing over them.”
Ignoring her advice, I coax the cat to the guesthouse, where I set up a cat bed near the steps. She ignores my kitty sanctuary and hides under the tiny porch. I offer her fresh water and food.
I realize I’m trying to domesticate the animal in the same way I want to do with Tommy. In my head, he just needs a warm place to stay and a little affection.
That might be true for Rose the Cat, who decides to sit with me on the steps when I remain quiet for long enough. Spending time with me proves more difficult for Tommy.
Like this afternoon, when he arrives, and I sense he immediately wants to leave.
I ought to catch on to how he isn’t attracted to me. Why do I obsess over this man rather than someone willing to share a room with me for more than five minutes? I need to be sensible.
However, my inner princess warrior screams for me to speak up.Don’t let Tommy disappear again! You’re about to miss out on another dream!
Jumping forward as he turns away, I call out, “Can I come with you?”
Pausing at the door, Tommy frowns back at me, dark and foreboding as if I’m threatening him. “What about the shop?”
“It’s not busy.”
