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Mildred smirks, her gaze shifting from Jeffrey to me.
“Oh, I was just having a chat with Phebe,” she says.
I manage a tight smile, trying to hide my discomfort.
Mildred’s eyes gleam with satisfaction as she takes a step closer to Jeffrey.
“Well, darling, I hope you haven’t forgotten what you promised me.”
Jeffrey’s jaw tenses, and he avoids making eye contact with her.
“Mildred, can we please have dinner now?” he interjects.
Mildred tilts her head, her tone falsely sweet.
“Sure. Let’s have dinner and save dessert for later,” she says, her wards carrying a hidden sting. Jeffrey doesn’t reject her suggestion.
Unable to bear their interaction any longer, the pain in my chest intensifies. The room feels suffocating, and I desperately need to escape this uncomfortable situation. Taking a shaky breath, I try to steady myself. I glare at Jeffrey, questioning why I ever believed we could rekindle our love.
* * *
Relief washesover me as I enter the dining room the next morning. I had made a point to find Mrs. Brown beforehand and let her know that I’d be having breakfast in my room, wanting to avoid any encounters with Mildred who would undoubtedly assure me that I had nothing to worry about now that Mildred had left. I need to have a conversation with Jeffrey and gain clarity on what’s happening between us. He can’t simply switch between warm and cold whenever he pleases. I deserve to know where we stand. Mildred’s arrival is a reminder that we haven’t discussed the nature of our relationship.
Lost in my thoughts, the sound of footsteps interrupts my musings. Jeffrey enters the dining room, and my heart skips a beat at the sight of him. I can’t help but notice the distant look in his eyes.
“Good morning,” he says, his voice calm and composed.
“Good morning,” I reply, trying to sound as casual as possible despite the swirl of emotions inside me. The silence is deafening, a stark contrast to the cheerful we used to share. Jeffrey looks deep in thought. Is he regretting the past few weeks?
I inhale sharply, choosing to shift my focus to breakfast. We can discuss everything later. Once we finish eating, though my appetite is lacking.
“So, Mildred… Is she gone?”
Jeffrey’s gaze meets mine, and he nods.
“Yes, she left earlier this morning.”
His words confirm what I already knew, but I can’t help but wonder why he’s keeping his emotions so guarded. It’s as if he’s shutting me out again despite the intimate moments we’ve shared over the past few weeks.
I take a sip of my coffee, trying to steady my nerves.
“I guess that’s a relief.”
Jeffrey’s expression remains neutral as he takes a bite of his toast, offering no further comment.
“By the way, I’ve made arrangements for the delivery of the rest of the paintings to the properties. Our work here is finished.”
“Jeffrey? I don’t understand,” I say with a puzzled look.
“What I’m saying is that I moved everything forward. The delivery has been taken care of,” he says calmly and deliberately.
My heart skips a beat, realizing the implications of his words. It means that my time here is coming to an end. I search his gaze, hoping to find a clue about what he’s feeling, but his eyes remain unreadable.
“You’ll have to return to Sausalito tomorrow,” he states matter-of-factly.
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I feel my chest tighten, and I struggle to control my emotions. Why does he seem so distant all of a sudden? It’s as if the past few weeks haven’t happened, and he’s shutting me out again.
“What’s wrong, Jeffrey?” I finally gather the courage to ask, my voice trembling slightly.
