Page 49 of Piece By Piece

“Yeah, no visiting my parents today. I need a break. I hope it’s okay I’m back so soon?” The question surprises me.

“Yes, of course. You live here now. You’re free to be home whenever you want. Don’t ever feel like you can’t, okay?” I try to assure her, hating the idea that she might’ve spent more time elsewhere because she thought she’d be a burden when she just wanted to come home and rest.

Searching my face closely, she finally nods. “Yeah, sure. Thanks. Now, have you eaten already? I went grocery shopping so I’ll probably cook anyway, in case you want to join me,” she offers.

“You didn’t have to do that, A. I have a lot more time on my hands. You can just make me a list of things you need, and I’ll do the shopping. I’ve always done it myself.” Not tomention that she shouldn’t spend her money on my food when I have enough to cover it without feeling a dent.

But this time, she just brushes me off. “I already don’t have to pay any rent. Let me at least do this so I don’t feel like a stray you had to save from the streets,” she argues.

Like I’d ever accept that sort of reasoning. “You’re not a live-in maiden or cook, Aly. You live here, and it’s not your job to get my groceries. I have the time and the money to spare, it’s really no big deal. It just makes more sense if you don’t have to worry about food on top of everything else.”

Of course, like every other time I tried to talk about her financial problems since the night she told me all about them, she gets defensive and dismisses me with a hard look.Shit.I should have known better than to go there. “This is non-negotiable, Sebastian. I want to contribute somehow. Now, can you help me get the bags up, please? I left them downstairs since my hands were too frozen to hold onto the thin straps any longer.”

Like a puppy beaten into obedience, too scared to upset her, I drop the subject and take the elevator downstairs with her in silence.

Chapter 22

Aliena

I’m drained and it’s barely nine pm. After I unloaded the groceries with Sebastian’s help, I shooed him out of the kitchen and made dinner. We ate in comfortable silence and when we were done, I insisted he couldn’t help me do the dishes. It was a quick chore, after all.

I went on and cleaned the kitchen, anything to stay busy since I don’t know what else to do with myself anymore. When I tried to simply clean some other parts of the house, Sebastian stopped me, reasoning that he had a very capable crew of cleaning ladies coming over once a week and that I didn’t have to do their job.

Now, we’re locked in battle. He has my arms pinned at my sides with his hands around my wrists to keep me from moving away and cleaning another counter while I stare up at him with childish defiance. Whatever, I get cranky when I’m tired and it doesn’t help that I’m supposed to get my period in a few days. At least I have a day off tomorrow and the day after that.

It doesn’t lift my mood enough to be compliant now, though.

“Aliena, stop fighting me on this. You’re clearly tired. Why won’t you just rest?” he asks, softening his voice so he sounds less demanding.

The answer would be that I don’t trust my mind not to go dark places when I give it the chance. Like, for example, how my mother is still not recovering. Instead, she starts looking more and more like a ghost from my past.

On top of that, my dad’s mood has been becoming darker by the day. I know he’s mostly mad at himself because he thinks it’s his fault that our family is struggling once again and maybe a bit frustrated with my mother for being such a screwup.

Still, yesterday, he snapped at me for dropping a fork when I did the dishes. His face got all red and a vein appeared at his temple. When he raised a hand to run it through his hair in agitation, I flinched away.

That sobered him up a bit and he apologized for losing his temper. Still, for a second, I was scared that he might hit me again. I don’t know what I’d do then. When I was younger, he never used much force on me so I’m sure I could take it. I’m just not sure if I want to.

Of course, I need to be understanding and help my parents as much as I can, but there are things I don’t ever want to experience again. Too much already feels like old times. I want to feel like myself again.

Instead of saying any of that, since I know that being a bitter pill all the time is how you bore friends into leaving, I just shrug. “I don’t have anything better to do.” I’m being stupidly defiant at this point. At least, it’s good entertainment to get a rise out of Sebastian.

The man scans my features thoughtfully. Finally, he smiles and lets go of my wrists to softly touch one of my shoulders instead. “I think you do. Or have you forgotten allabout the unlimited access I granted you to a specific part of the house?”

At that, I perk up a little. He chuckles.

“That’s what I thought. Come on, I’ll explain how everything works again,” he proposes, already turning to walk up the stairs. I beam and follow him, feeling some of my energy returning at the prospect of some good old me-time. I can’t believe I forgot about baths. Such a fool.

When I enter the master bathroom after the owner of the house, I halt in my tracks, gaping at all the new candles placed around the tub and the array of scented bath oils that are lining the wall.

“What is all this?” I ask, then turn to him. “You bought all that? Why? You had more than enough already,” I protest, unsure of what I’m feeling. I’m touched, yes, of course. Still, it feels wrong that he spent money on me. There was no need for any of this. The bathtub in itself was enough, and he had scented oils he swore he wouldn’t use on hand.

I was fine with the thought of using them. But this, this is excessive, the kind of ambience supposed to stay in fantasies and dreams.

Sebastian raises his hands in defense. “I didn’t buy any of that. This was all my mom,” he argues, making me frown in confusion.

“Your mom?” He told his mom I liked baths? And she bought things for me?

“Oh right, I didn’t tell you. She’s a housekeeper and occasionally comes here with the other cleaning ladies. She saw that someone moved into my guest room, so I told her about you. I should have known she’d do something like this when I told her the oils she’s been giving me for years arefinally going to be used. Please, don’t be upset with me. My mother surely got a lot of pleasure shopping for all that.”

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