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Chapter four
After a restless night of tossing and turning and little sleep, I rose in the morning and went to sit out on the balcony, leaving Nathan asleep. It was a beautiful, clear day and the harbour was already full of boats going for an early sail.
“Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?”
“No, terrible,” I replied truthfully as Nathan came and sat beside me. I turned to look at him. He looked gorgeous, even though he’d gotten straight out of bed and wrapped the robe around himself. His morning beard made him look rough and dangerous, even more dangerous than that dark Prada suit from the night before.
“I slept fantastic, the best I have in ages,” Nathan replied. “I think there’s something comforting in having someone soft beside you.”
“Depends who it is,” I muttered.
“Now, now, Rose. Don’t get the morning off to a bad start with your sharp tongue,” he said, like he was disciplining a small child.
I decided against arguing. I was too tired. “Are you going to let me go to my house today so I can pick up my things?”
“I’ll take you to your house, yes,” Nathan answered, his voice calm.
There was a knock on the door and Jane wheeled a trolley out to the balcony. It had coffee, tea, toast and spreads, and fresh cut fruit. There was also an iPad with the business pages already loaded on the screen. Nathan thanked the older lady and she smiled at him, while ignoring me, and she walked back out without a word.
Nathan offered me a piece of toast and I realised I was starving. I hadn’t eaten much at dinner time and was now feeling it. I helped myself to three pieces with honey, while Nathan drank a strong black coffee and read the latest news.
“I’m certainly not worried about you turning to skin and bones anymore,” Nathan remarked while watching me eat the last bite of my third piece.
“I’m hungry. Don’t you eat breakfast?” I asked, wiping my hands on a thick white napkin. I reached for a piece of watermelon.
“Yes, but I like to read the news first. I read the business section’s first thing every morning.” He grabbed a piece of wholemeal toast and spread marmalade all over it.
“I didn’t know people still read newspapers, even online.”
Nathan shrugged. “It’s true there are faster ways to get the news, but there is something about reading a newspaper, even a digital one, first thing in the morning that I enjoy.”
After we’d finished breakfast, we went back inside and I noticed my clothes from the day before were freshly washed, ironed, and lying on the end of the bed. I picked them up and walked into the bathroom to change. Nathan left me alone and went to another bathroom to get ready. A short time later we were in Nathan’s SUV on the way to my house.
When we pulled up in the driveway, Nathan and I got out and walked inside, leaving Sam in the car. Nathan looked big and awkward standing in my small lounge room. He looked around slowly, taking everything in.
“Cosy, isn’t it?” he commented as he walked towards the bedroom.
I sighed and glanced around. I knew he was being sarcastic, but I loved this house. It had taken me months to get it just right. As Nathan walked into the bedroom, I noticed how tiny the room looked with him in it. It hadn’t felt that small when I was here on my own.
Nathan looked around then sat on the edge of the bed. “You’d better start packing some clothes, we haven’t got all day.”
I felt my stomach lurch and my whole body felt heavy. He really wanted me to go through with this, I realised.
I went to my wardrobe and pulled out a large suitcase. “What should I pack?”
Nathan shrugged. “Everything.”
I paled. “Everything? Nathan, I really don’t think I can go through with this.”
Nathan got up and moved so he was standing in front of me. “That’s fine, Rose, we’ll just go to your brother with the other two options. At least with all his arms and legs broken he won’t be able to go out and gamble,” Nathan taunted, anger flashing in his eyes.
I felt the fear slid through me and I knew that I didn’t have a choice, I had to go through with this. Liam dealing with broken bones or a jail sentence wasn’t an option. He needed a chance to be the best father he could be. A long sigh escaped my lips. “Alright then, Nathan, you win. I’ll start packing.”
Nathan took the suitcase off me and opened it up on the bed. He sat back down and watched me take all of my clothes out of the wardrobe and pack them into the suitcase, taking my time. When it came to packing my intimates, I quickly shoved them into my bag, not wanting Nathan to see anything so personal.
