Danaë
Danae:
Tears began to fall as Johann closed the door on Heath. Seeing him had tested my resolve, but I knew if I didn’t have time to think without interference, I might not make the best decision for all of us. I was hurt and angry. Never the best condition to be in when making life-altering decisions.
I knew that if I waited and asked Heath to let me go to Johann’s, he wouldn’t have let me go.
That was why I asked Johann to help me sneak out.
He distracted the Patriots while I went out the back door.
I had crossed the neighbors’ backyards and waited two streets over for him to pick me up.
He hadn’t been thrilled with it, but he did it.
“Sit down, and you need to stop crying before you make yourself sick. It’ll be alright, Danni.
I’m here, and whatever you need, I’ll do.
I called in sick, and they accepted it. We have the weekend, but if you’re still not ready to speak to him by Monday, we’ll have to figure out where you can go.
If I leave you alone here, he’ll be back. ”
He guided me to the couch. I sat down with him. He took up the spot next to me.
“I’m sorry, I know I’m complicating your life, and you don’t need that.
And I know you weren’t thrilled with me leaving his place without speaking to him, but I’ve got to have peace to think, Johann.
I can’t make a mistake. It’s too important.
I know Heath thinks I only care about what I want for the baby and me, but it’s not true.
I have to be sure the woman he chooses is the one he wants, not the one he thinks I am.
It’ll only cause more grief and pain later if he discovers I’m different from what he believes.
I don’t want to hurt him. I really don’t.
I love him, but love won’t be enough if we fight who we are. ”
“I get it. I do. I hate the idea of the two of you being at odds or worse, broken up. Despite the rocky start, I like him. And I know he loves you. God, if you’d seen him as we were organizing to come to the Masters’ estate.
He was like a man on fire. I thought he’d crack and go rogue.
He told more than one of us that he couldn’t live without you.
He was torn when it came time to choose where we would go.
In the end, he said the estate. We agreed that one of us had to be there when you were rescued, so that’s why we split up. ”
“Johann, you know what it did to me when Mom became what she did after Dad died. By the time we thought things had finally gotten fully back on track, Haris got sick and died. I can’t take any more heartbreak.
I don’t want to lose Heath, but I have to be true to myself.
I made myself stronger, and I have unresolved business with Mom and Huston.
And then there’s whatever the hell Zhāng had planned for me.
I’m never one to hide and let others protect me.
And the thing is, after meeting the other Dark Patriot wives, I don’t see them acting that way, either.
Heath seemed to admire them. Maybe he can only accept that in a woman who isn’t his. ”
I leaned my head onto his chest. Johann held me close, rubbing my arm.
“I don’t know, Danni. But try to find a way to meet him somewhere close to the middle. I know it’s not easy to compromise for either of you, but if you love each other, try.”
I let his words sink in. I was tired, and all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. Slowly, some of the tension eased. As it did, my eyelids grew heavier.