Page 38 of Hiss and Tell
Later, after Sebastian has gone home and I’m getting ready for bed, I look hard at myself in the bathroom mirror. Tomorrow, I think as I brush my teeth; I need to tell Sebastian about my condition.
We’re moving toward real intimacy, real commitment, and he deserves complete honesty. The thought makes my stomach flutter with anxiety, but underneath that fear is something stronger: trust. Trust that whatever we’re building together is strong enough to handle difficult conversations.
Trust that Sebastian is exactly the kind of man who will see this information as something we face together, not something that drives us apart.
Some relationships are worth the risk of complete honesty.
And this one, I’m finally ready to admit, is worth everything.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aspen
The morning after Sebastian’s funding victory, I wake up with a knot in my stomach that has nothing to do with the leftover pizza. Yesterday’s celebration was perfect—Sebastian’s joy, Milo’s excitement, the easy intimacy of sharing such an important moment together. But it also crystallized something I’ve been avoiding.
We’re becoming a real family. Which means it’s time for complete honesty.
“Mama, you’re organizing the junk drawer again,” Milo observes from the kitchen table where he’s coloring. “You only do that when you’re worried about something.”
Smart kid. “Just tidying up, Bug.”
“Is it about Mr. Sebastian? Because he likes you even when you’re messy. I can tell by the way his snakes sway with delight.”
From the mouths of babes. But this isn’t about messiness. This is about something that could change everything between us.
My phone buzzes with a text from Dr. Marshall’s office: Prescription ready for pickup. Refill reminder: This medication is most effective when taken consistently.
Great timing. The written reminder of what I need to tell Sebastian.
“Milo, want to go to the pharmacy with me? We can stop for ice cream after.”
“Yes! Can we get the kind with dinosaur-shaped sprinkles?”
“If they have them.”
As I’m rehearsing our talk in my mind, my phone rings. “Ms. Walker? This is Cathy from Radcliffe & Associates. I know your meeting was postponed due to an emergency a while ago, but we’ve been doing some corporate reshuffling. Mr. Radcliffe wanted to know if you could come in sometime this week, at your convenience? He’s reviewed your proposal and is very impressed, but he has a few questions.”
My heart leaps. After everything that happened at the library, I thought that opportunity was lost forever. “Of course. What time works?”
“Would 4PM today be possible?”
I glance at Milo, happily coloring at the table. “Absolutely. I’ll be there.”
After I hang up, excitement and terror war in my stomach. This could be the break I’ve been working toward for months—the contract that would let me quit one of my jobs and build Aspenly Yours into something real.
The pharmacy trip takes longer than expected. The new pharmacist has questions about my prescription, requiring a consultation that makes my cheeks burn despite knowing it’s routine medical care. Milo entertains himself with the blood pressure cuff while I handle the paperwork.
“All set, Ms. Walker,” the pharmacist says quietly, sliding the white bag across the counter. “Same instructions as before. Any questions?”
“No, thank you.” I tuck the bag deep into my purse, hyperaware of Milo’s presence even though he’s completely absorbed in making the cuff inflate and deflate.
“Mama, you’re gripping the steering wheel really tight,” Milo observes from the backseat.
“Just thinking, Bug.”
“About Mr. Sebastian?”
“About being honest with people we care about.”
