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Francis getsme out of the penthouse most days. Says he doesn't want me to fade away. Life is far too beautiful to be locked up like a prisoner. And, fine. He's right. There is a whole world I’ve missed. I think maybe he likes to get me out so he can see his newfriend.An older woman who sells fresh bread at Pikes Market. Everyone deserves love, especially Francis. So I pretend something catches my eye as they chat.
“You should ask her out,” I tell him as we walk down the main street of Seattle.
Francis’ stride pauses, before resuming. “I’m not sure what you mean, miss.”
“Mmmhm. Sure. Look, you don't have to spend every moment with me. You can live your life freely. You deserve love too.”
“Sorry, miss. I have no clue what you are talking about.”
Stubborn old man. I’ll get it out of him eventually.
Chapter 34
This issome serious Saprano’s shit.
In the damn therapist office like Tony Soprano.
I glower at the small tiny woman who stares at me expectantly. I can’t even remember what the hell she asked.
“Atticus, I asked why you’re here?”
“Because my future wife deserves a somewhat sane husband.”
Jullia adjusts her glasses, “You should want to get better for yourself, not someone else.”
I scoff, “Not in this lifetime.”
“Fine. Let’s get into your childhood.”
“Damn, Jullia. At least give me some lube before you fuck me. I just sat down.”
Her eyes widen comically and I have to hide my smirk.
“Chill, Jullia, let's dive into why I am the way I am, yeah? You know parts of it, but not all of it.”
By the time our hour is up, Jullia has little to say, if anything. She wasn't there for very long before I took care of Ma’am. Julia never saw the worst side of everything.
“Well, Julia, what do you have to say now?”
She clears her throat, “I’d say we have lots of work to do. More than I originally thought.”
Yeah, I fucking figured.
“I just want to be good enough for her, and with everything, especially with Ma’am, as you know,” I look pointedly at her.
“It’s not about you being good enough for her. It’s about you beinggoodto her.”
I watchfrom my car as Francis and Constance walk peacefully downtown, pointing out things to each other. I envy the old man. Getting to spend all his time with my Little Bird.
Her sundress blows in the fall breeze and I swear her scent carries through the vents of my car. I’m delusional, I know this.
I’ve never missed a soul on this Earth for one second of my life, but the last couple of weeks have been worse than myrecurring nightmares. Makes me want to kidnap her back to our home, but then I remember why and who I’m doing this for.
After facing down my father again, I realized I killed him too quickly. I had questions to ask. Like, why? Why he did this and why he made me like this. And now I’ll never get the answers. Jullia is helping me through this process. That old woman sure knows how to piss me off. But she’s good for me.
My phone vibrates and I look down.
Don’t change completely. I fell in love with the Beast, not the prince.
