Page 54 of Across Eternity

“It was fine,” I reply.

25

SARAH

The next day things are more uncomfortable than ever. It’s unbearable that it’s gotten this way. I love him, I love his daughter, and I want to stay. But how can we continue like this?

When he comes in at lunch he barely looks at me.

“I need to go into town,” I say, rising.

“I’ll give you my list and the two of you can go,” says Marie. “I’ll watch the baby.”

I want to be alone with him, and yet I also don’t. I’m scared that he’ll apologize again, or even worse...that he’ll imply there’s something about Yvette he misses.

We walk in silence. It’s not until we’ve reached the town that he turns to me.

“Can we talk about yesterday?” he asks suddenly.

I tense. “What about it?”

He closes his eyes and exhales heavily. “It’s not how I’d have wanted our first time to be, and I feel as if it ended badly, but when I try to discuss it with you, you end the conversation.”

“I don’t know what you want from me,” I mutter. “I told you it was fine.”

His laughter is short and bitter. “Yes, that’s what every man wants to hear. It was fine.”

Tears spring to my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I snap. “I’m sure Yvette was much better at demonstrating her appreciation.” I start crossing the street toward the general store.

“Amelie, wait,” he says.

“Just leave me alone,” I hiss over my shoulder. “I’ll meet you at the butcher shop.”

I walk into the store, trying to compose myself. This is a small town and it’ll just take one person seeing tears in my eyes to get the rumor mill running.

And who am I fooling? It’s already running full speed, I’m sure. A year ago, the whole town was gossiping about Henri’s possessiveness of his cousin, and as soon as the cousin returns his wife runs off. It’s easy enough to imagine what they are all thinking.

I grab a package of pins and then ask Madame Fournier for ten yards of cotton for diapers. She tells me to give her a moment, so I turn to walk down the aisle and run right into Luc.

He looks startled to see me, and then glances at the pins in my hand and gives me a small smile. “And?” he asks. “Are the rumors true?”

“What rumors?”

“That Yvette left. She told Claudette Loison that you and Henri were lovers and she caught you together.”

“No,” I gasp. “Of course not. Yvette was…unhinged. She was constantly making accusations and had no interest in being a mother. Her departure had nothing to do with me.”

He steps closer. “My leave is nearly over. I haven’t seen you in town once, though.”

“I’ve been taking care of the baby,” I argue. “She’s still fragile. None of us have been around.”

He nods and then his hand slides out to grab mine. “Just be careful,” he says. “Please. His wife is gone and I’m sure he’s ready to take you back with open arms, but he’s hurt you once and that situation is a landmine. The woman just had a baby. Her emotions are all over the place but she’s going to come back. Surely you realize this.” As he says the words, I realize I’ve been saying them to myself as well. Asking what will happen if Yvette changes her mind. Cecelia is her daughter and Henri will go where she goes. “You’re beautiful, and I’m not saying he doesn’t care, but if he has to decide between taking her back or losing his daughter, what will he—”

Luc’s words die off suddenly, and before I can ask him what’s wrong, I feel Henri move behind me, standing too close.

“Drop her hand,” he growls.

Luc’s eyes darken. “I’m getting tired of these little interruptions, Henri,” he replies, his hand still on mine. “Perhaps if you took better care of your things, you wouldn’t need to guard them so zealously.”