Page 115 of Time To Learn

23

Kristian

Unease at Laura’ssilence sits heavy in my gut. I feel helpless, and I hate the feeling. She’s only said a few words since we left the farm, giving me directions to Ailith’s friend’s house, and if her hand wasn’t intertwined with mine, resting on my lap, I’d be worried about her state ofmind.

I’d probably think that we were taking a step back, instead of forward, in our relationship.

But I still hate the silence.

“I was so in love with James.”

I spin my head in her direction.

“What?”

For the first time since we left, she glances atme.

“Ailith’s father,” she starts on a loud breath. “I was completely lost in him from the day I methim.”

I grind my teeth, feeling a sense of irrational resentment towards the man already.

“I thought you said he wasn’t your soul mate?” I turn on the indicator and go easy on the brake before I take the nextturn.

“He wasn’t.”

I wait, anxious to hear more, but dreading it at the sametime.

Her fingers flex in myhand.

“I’m going to tell you a story, Kristian.”

Puzzled, I glance at her, but she stares straight ahead.

“Once upon a time,” she starts, “there lived a young woman on a farm, who had the world at the ends of her fingertips. She was outgoing, friendly, but she could also be a little arrogant.”

A huff escapes her lips, and I squeeze her hand, silently encouraging her to goon.

“One night, she was at a party, and she met a man there. He was charismatic, with a worldly air about him, and he struck up a conversation with her. They seemed to have a lot in common, and when this man walked her home, he asked for her number. The woman thought that she had met a real gentleman, so she gave it to him. She hadn’t lost her heart to him already, of course—she knew men, and she wasn’t shy about her past—but this one wasn’t like the others, and he intriguedher.”

I blink, wondering where this story is going.

“Anyway, they embarked on a passionate journey together, and, little by little, the man and woman fell in love with each other. And only three months after they’d met, the man proposed to her—can you guess her answer?”

Her question throws me for a loop, and I chance another glance at her. Her eyes are fixated on our hands, and the sadness in her smile makes my gut churn.

“She said yes, didn’t she?” I ask gruffly.

“Yes, she did. Her parents weren’t too pleased with it, seeing as the couple hadn’t known each other for that long, but they saw how happy their daughter was, so they kept their doubts to themselves. The couple threw the wedding of the year, or so the story goes, and six months after their first meeting, they had the pleasure of calling themselves husband andwife.”

Laura’s dark chuckle makes me grit my teeth.

“The woman hadn’t lived with a man before, but she was so excited to start a life with him. She agreed immediately when he declared that they were to live in London, because of his job. It was so far away from her parents, but she was happy. The man had promised her the world, and now he was, to her, fulfilling his vow. She was at a crossroads in her life, and she had grown bored of villagelife.”

“It’s only natural that she would feel like that. What happened then?” Iask.

“Well, the couple moved, the woman told her parents and friends goodbye, and all seemed well. At least for a while.”

“And?”