Page 58 of A Winter Redemption
Jarne really should say yes.
He had no reason not to. He should say yes, pack his things, and leave with his mother.
After all, he’d planned to leave after Winter Solstice, and that was only two days away. He’d never planned to stay or live in Ores. And it wasn’t like Ketho would be here for him if he did decide to stay.
So why wasn’t Jarne speaking? Why wasn’t he agreeing with his mother? Why was he just standing here staring at her?
Jarne loved his work in Bordertown. He loved being a perfume alchemist. And although he’d never take that twat Sasha back he’d always wanted to return to Bordertown and his life there.
But Aryn’s words rang in his head, going round and round and round. He could still hear Aryn say how he’d never been loved in Bordertown. How he had nothing back there.
And Jarne began to think about what he had back there too. He had his job, of course. But what else? No friends. No partner. Only a wanker of an ex-husband and family that didn’t love or show him affection. No fun or frivolity.
Mila and Rhorton had treated him better than his own parents ever had. He had Aryn here, with whom he’d been building what he thought was a somewhat normal and caring sibling relationship. Back in Bordertown, his relationships with his other siblings had been perfunctory and practical. He’d made friends too, Edwin and Sinoe. He’d never had friends before.
And he felt like he was a better person here, more caring, less self-centred, and more aware of others and their needs.
He didn’t have Ketho. That hadn’t worked out. But even without that, his life in Ores had been more filled with love and affection in less than a month than in his entire life back in Bordertown.
His mother stared at him.
Jarne really should just say yes.
But he couldn’t.
Jarne felt inspired. Because maybe he could build a better life here. A life full of love and joy and happiness, with some time for fun and frivolity.
“Jarne?” his mother snapped. “Let’s get going. I don’t want to remain in this backwards hovel a moment longer.”
“No,” Jarne said slowly. “No. I don’t think I will return to Bordertown.”
Her eyes widened a fraction, then narrowed. “Can you repeat that?”
“I don’t think I will return,” Jarne said.
“What about your work?”
In the previous couple of days, Jarne had been thinking about this. A foolish part of his mind had held on to the hope that he and Ketho might reunite. And because of that foolish hope, Jarne hadn’t been able to stop imagining ways that he could stay in Ores and work.
“To be honest, I see no reason why I must return to Bordertown to work,” Jarne said. “I can live in a cabin here. I can build a cabin that is big enough for me to continue creating new perfumes. Of course, I’d need to order essential oils to be brought here. But that wouldn’t be too difficult.
“Or perhaps we could also look into producing some perfumes here,” Jarne said, gazing into his mother’s flinty eyes. “I can make essential oils from materials sourced from the Norend Mountains. We might need to build some more facilities. It will take a little time to set up. We’d have to hire.”
“What about me?” Sasha asked.
“What about you? I don’t give a rat’s arse what you do,” Jarne snapped. Then he turned back to his mother. “I could make perfumes here and send them to Bordertown. Or even Castle Evermore to distribute. I can travel there sometimes. It’s not far.” He paused. “I still care about the business, Mother.”
“No.” She stepped towards him. Despite being shorter, she stared down her nose at him. “Do you think we will let you live up here, bringing shame to the family?”
“I don’t think you have a choice,” Jarne said.
She huffed. “If you stay here, you will have nothing to do with Greweth Perfumeries. None of us will speak with you, work with you, or have anything to do with you ever again.”
Jarne wasn’t even a little surprised, and somehow that made his choice so much easier. “If that is your decision.”
She grimaced. Then she turned and strode towards the door, pausing at the entrance. “I expect you’ll come grovelling back in a week.” Then she left.
“How can you do this to your own mother?” Sasha asked. “After everything she has done for you.”
