Chapter 13
thirteen
. . .
Eden
I’m staring into the mirror. The black dress I thought I’d one day wear on a date is now forever tarnished as the dress I wore to my parents’ funeral. And no matter how hard I try…I can’t stop crying.
Yesterday was a series of useless bickering with my aunt. Not even inviting Kris and Kyle over helped. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another, and then she had the nerve to ask me if I knew if Mum left her and Fred the RV.
Are you kidding me?
That was when Fred stepped in and got her out of the house before I learned if I really could commit murder.
A commotion downstairs pulls my eyes away from the mirror and my reflection.
“I’m not letting you upstairs. I don’t even know you,” Doreen says, and I know exactly who it is.
“I’m Eden’s boyfriend, and I’m going up whether you like it or not.” Felix’s voice is low and so dangerous that it sends a shiver down my spine.
It’s so very wrong to love that he calls me his girlfriend, and yet…I do.
“If you’re her boyfriend, why hasn’t she ever mentioned you?”
“Probably because she didn’t want to get the third degree from you. Have you even considered how difficult this day is for her? You’ve done nothing but upset her since you arrived.”
Doreen audibly gasps.
Oh shit.
Grabbing my cane, I limp toward the stairs.
“How dare you…”
“How dare I what? Tell the truth? Move your arm before I move you,” he growls.
“Hey, don’t talk to my wife like that,” Fred says, now getting involved.
“Then maybe you should keep her on a tighter leash.”
“Enough!” I call down the stairs before an actual fight breaks out. “Felix is welcome here. He is who he says he is.”
Everything goes silent for a moment, and I manage to get down two stairs before Felix is jogging up them toward me in a black suit.
“Are you okay?”
He cups my face and looks me over like he’s expecting wounds.
“Yeah.”
“Let me help you,” he says, his voice soft and nothing like it was a second ago.
My aunt is visibly fuming when we reach the bottom.
“We need to have a talk right now,” she says, and I shake my head.
“No. We don’t. I’m an adult, and this is my life. With Mum and Dad gone, I choose how I want to live it and who is in it with me, and right now…I don’t want to see you. I don’t want you in my home. Please leave.”
Doreen’s nostrils flare as she huffs.
“You’ve become very disrespectful. Your mother would be ashamed.”
Before I can say anything, Felix steps in front of me and towers over my aunt.
“Take it back,” he snarls, hands curling into fists.
I’m not sure if he’ll actually hit her, but he sure looks like he’s about to.
“Take it back right now, or don’t even bother coming to the funeral because you won’t be allowed in.”
Even though I can’t see Doreen, I can imagine her face.
“Son, I think you need to calm down,” Fred says.
I lay my hand on Felix’s back, and his shoulders relax, but he doesn’t move.
“You’d better get control of your wife.”
“It’s okay, Felix.”
He looks over his shoulder at me, and the dark look in his eyes softens.
“Are you sure? I have no problem physically throwing them out since they seem hard of hearing.”
“I’m sure,” I say with a smile.
He rolls his shoulders.
“Don’t even think about saying one more thing to Eden.”
Fred grabs Doreen’s arm, and the two stomp out, muttering about how they have never been so disrespected before.
Felix only turns to face me once they are gone.
He gives me a small grin, tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and lays a gentle kiss on my cheek.
My heart flutters with the brush of his lips.
Even with the terrible weight and sadness of the day, having him here makes everything feel a little better.
“I’ve got your back, always,” he says, and my face burns hot.
“Thanks, but they’re harmless. My aunt has always been like this. She lost her sister, so I think she’s just looking for someone to take her emotions out on.”
“That may be, but she won’t do it to you.” He trails his fingers softly down my cheek. “Understood? At least not while I’m around.”
“My knight in shining armor,” I tease.
“If that’s what you need me to be.”
He is serious, I can see it in his eyes, but I don’t know what to say.
There is a spark of tension as we stare at one another.
Felix clears his throat and steps away, bursting the bubble.
I take a slow, shuddering breath when he grabs my long, black coat that I’ve left on the wooden banister and helps me put it on.
Felix doesn’t say anything else as we head out of the house. He guides me into the car, and we drive to the funeral home.
At least it’s sunny today. Warm rays reflect off the fresh blanket of snow we got last night, making it look like the world is covered in little diamonds.
Mom loved days like today. Whenever someone asked her why we lived in a place that is cold for seven months of the year, she would just smile and say, “You don’t understand the magic. ”
Felix grabs my hand, running his thumb over the skin.
“It’s going to be okay.”
“Can I ask what you did for your brother? You didn’t tell me about a celebration of life or anything.”
He slowly removes his hand, and I want to grab it back, hating to lose the contact.
“He was cremated. We didn’t have a funeral or celebration. It’s only me and Uncle Jim, so no point in having a celebration just us. I’m sure my friend Matt would have come, but like I said, helping you…helps me.”
My heart aches for him now too, and I’m sorry that I asked such a sad question. I’m trying to think of something to say when we pull into the parking lot. Felix parks in the closest spot and shuts off the car. When he turns to me, his blue eyes search my face.
I shift under his stare.
“I love what you did with your hair,” he says, reaching out and running a piece through his fingers.
I always hated my hair because it seemed so plain with the dark brown that I’m too nervous to dye.
“I just straightened it.”
“You are so pretty, you know that, right? Just like a ray of sunshine on a field of sunflowers in summer.” My brain flounders as I try to come up with a response. “Just remember, I’m here for you.”
Felix hops out, and I take a slow and steady breath.
All I know is that I’m a colossal mess.
Four hours later, I’m sitting in my living room staring at the wall. People move around me in a sea of low conversation and tiny plates of food from some caterer whose name I don’t remember. I look up when Felix touches my hand.
Wordlessly, he takes my used tissue and hands me a new one before walking away and disappearing into the crowd.
Do I even know half of these people? I’m sure I do. I must, and yet…I can’t tell you their names to save my soul.
Kris sits down beside me on a footstool and puts her hand on my knee.
“It was a beautiful service,” she says.
It really was.
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit. Felix did it all.”
Her face twists as she presses her lips together. I know that look. It’s her ‘I don’t really want to say this, but I’m going to’ look.
“Eden…don’t you find it strange how involved he is with everything? I’ve known you since we were kids and I would never dream of making such important decisions for you.”
I open my mouth, but she holds up her hand to stop me from interrupting her.
“I know you said that he just wants to help, and that it helps him too, or something. But…Eden, look around.” I do, but I don’t see what she sees.
“He’s everywhere. He’s organizing food and pouring drinks.
He stood with you in the reception line, and…
I don’t know. It’s like you two are married or something.
Every time I talk to you, he is either here, on his way over, or just left.
Do you go a day without seeing or talking to him? ”
“What does it matter? He’s not hurting me. I don’t think my parents would want me alone just because they died, do you?”
“No, of course not, and I’m happy for you, but…I can’t explain it. It’s not that he’s done anything that I can really point to and say, that is the thing, but he just seems to be taking over your life.”
I dab at my eyes again as a fresh wave of tears hits.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t bring this up today. Promise me you’ll be careful. I love you, you’re my best friend, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She grips my hand, just as Felix steps out of the crowd and kneels beside me.
“Are you okay?”
He gives Kris a suspicious look.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a tough day, and all of this…” I point to the people. “Is a lot.”
Felix pushes to his feet, and before I even know what he is going to do, he puts his fingers between his lips and whistles so loud that I cringe. Everyone stops moving.
“I’m sorry, but you all need to leave. Eden is tired and wants to lie down.” No one moves. “Leave. Right now,” Felix orders.
“It’s okay, they can stay.”
“No, they need to respect your feelings.” He points to the door. “I said, leave. Get out.”
I reach for his arm as he steps away, but I miss and only get air.
Kris looks at Felix’s back, then at me. She lifts a brow before slowly standing.
“Remember what I said.”
She gives me a sad smile, but annoyance flashes in her eyes before following the crowd to the entry. I catch the same irritated look on Kyle’s face and shock from everyone else.
When everyone is gone, Felix closes the door. He walks toward me, and I try to see him through Kris’s eyes.
“You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine.”
“No, you aren’t. You need to rest. Let me help you upstairs, and then I’ll clean up the mess.”
He reaches for me like he is going to pick me up.
“No. Stop.”
He freezes, brows drawn together in confusion.
“I think you should go too.”
“What?”
“Felix…we haven’t really spent a moment apart since the accident. I need some space to grieve and deal with this on my own. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but…you’re everywhere, all the time.”
A shadow crosses his face, and he steps back as if I’ve slapped him. Guilt churns in my gut.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean for it to sound so harsh.”
“No…it’s fine. I really thought I was helping to make things easier for you, but obviously it didn’t come across that way.”
He walks out into the hall and grabs his coat. My heart begins to race.
“Felix…please don’t be angry.”
Grabbing my cane, I stand and limp toward him.
“I’m not angry. I get it. Um…before I forget, the lawyer got back to me. You have an appointment Tuesday at nine. I made sure it wouldn’t conflict with your physio.” He shrugs on his coat and does it up. “He said that he’ll be away three weeks over Christmas and wants to see you before then.”
Once more I’m filled with a strange mix of relief and shock. Felix steps forward and kisses my forehead, and then, just like that, he’s gone, and I’m left alone.
I stare at the closed door, my heart in my throat and my brain buzzing. The house feels colder without him in it. That realization scares me more than being alone.
I glance around at the cups and plates left behind. Shit. I lock the door and head upstairs, feeling more dejected than ever.