THE ART OF FALLING GRACEFULLY by SARAH BETH LEE (novel24 TXT) 📖

of her mind. She wiped the condensation off the fogged over mirror and was disgusted at the reflection staring back at her. She didn’t want Trent to see her pale washed out complexion. She knew it was crazy to apply makeup before going to bed but she would be damned if he saw her like this. She applied lotion to her bare legs and a touch of body spray. She looked at herself but didn’t see much improvement, “Oh well who am I trying to impress? Trent doesn’t care what I look like.” Sydney chastised herself as she pulled her robe tightly around herself and turned off the light. She quickly changed into an oversized t-shirt and plaid boxer style shorts; she found the need for comfort over fashion. She had never been into those little lacy numbers. Besides who would ever see her in them anyways besides her cat Kodiak? And she knew he didn’t care what she slept in. She pulled the covers back on her bed. She was very tired and her body longed for undisturbed blissful sleep. She wondered how much longer Trent would be.

She left her room to check the house. She stuck her head in Marley’s room. She was sound asleep; she had always been able to sleep through anything. She remembered one Saturday morning they had slept through the fire alarm blaring outside Marley’s bedroom. Kate, Marley’s little sister had been trying to cook breakfast and started a grease fire. The house had filled with smoke, the stove had been engulfed in flames, there had been eight firemen traipsing through the and that annoying alarm blaring for half an hour and they slept through it all. She found herself laughing at the distant memory of another time and place.

Sydney decided everything seemed fine so she headed back downstairs to wait for Trent. She turned the stereo on and chose a mixed CD that Joey had made for her. She closed her weary eyes as Cold Play filled the room, The Scientist one of her favorite old songs. The haunted melody made her once again think of Trent. She wondered if he listened to music and if so what kind did he like? Classical, Jazz, hip-hop or maybe country. She realized she really didn’t know what it was that made him who he was. She didn’t know what his likes and dislikes were; he was always so agreeable. Was just indifferent or did he just like everything and everybody?

Sydney opened her eyes and saw headlights slowing through the front window. She saw the familiar two-tone blue and white Chevy work truck and she sighed with relief. She hadn’t been aware of the fact that she was so anxious for his return. She went to unlock the door but Trent was already standing inside the foyer. She looked at him strangely.

“Trent how did you get in? That door was locked.”

Trent looked at her closely, “Sydney the door was unlocked when I got here.”

She saw her mail still lying on the hall table but a tattered piece of notebook paper caught her eye. She shivered as is someone had just walked behind her. She smiled at Trent.

“I guess I forgot to lock it.”

Trent’s eyes never left Sydney’s face. She was trying to act so brave but he could see the fear in the depths of her beautiful brown irises.

“Syd I heard you lock the door when I left.”

Sydney shrugged her shoulders in an offhand manner, “I don’t have a clue maybe you should go check on Marley.”

“Ok I’ll check the upstairs and look in on Marley. I’ll be right back.”

Sydney nodded her head and watched him climb the stairs. She grabbed the note off the table and walked back to the couch. She looked at the simple piece of paper afraid of what it might say. She drew in a ragged breath and began to read.

My Dearest Sydney,
I have missed you so much and longed for the we will be together again. It is not right for a husband and wife to be separated like this. I know I can make you love me, if you’ll give me one more chance. It pains me to think of you with another man, the thought of it drives me mad. I don’t want to believe that you would be unfaithful to me; but I’ve seen you with him. Syd if I found out you had been intimate with him. If I found out you couldn’t be trusted I am not sure what I would be forced to do to you or him. Please Syd, think about this and give me, us another chance. I’ll be watching and waiting.
Your loving husband
Rick

Sydney pulled the fleece throw around her trembling shoulders. She wasn’t sure what to make of the letter; had he been in a drunken stupor when he wrote it? They weren’t married the divorce had been final for over a year. Was he threatening her or worse was he stalking her? What was he planning to do to her or to Trent if he saw them together? The last thing she wanted was to put Trent in danger and she shuttered to think of what Rick might do to Trent. He was capable of anything and he would have no regrets.

She heard Trent coming down the stairs she folded the crumbled note and stuffed it between the couch cushions. She would not tell Trent about the threat. She would distance herself from him to keep him safe.

Sydney showed Trent to the empty bedroom next to hers and wished him a good night. She hoped that at least one of them got a good night’s sleep and she was placing her bet on Trent. She was sure that sleep would be a long time coming for her.

Trent put his things away but he knew he would never be able to sleep next door to Sydney. It would drive him crazy to have her so close yet so far away. What he wanted was to be right there with her, to hold her and protect her. He wanted to chase all those ghosts away He wanted her to reach out to him instead of keeping him at a distance.

He decided to go downstairs and watch TV. He knew he would sleep better on the couch anyway. He would be able to hear if anyone approached the house. He tossed his pillow and blankets on the couch. As he tucked a sheet under the cushion he felt something. He lifted the cushion to see a crumbled piece of paper. He knew he shouldn’t be reading it but he saw the word love and he couldn’t help himself. He slowly unfolded the paper and began to read the words that gripped his heart with fear.

Sydney was pacing the floor at the end of her bed, trying to make sense of it all. She had almost decided to talk to Trent when she heard a soft tap on her door.


“Come in.”

Trent entered her room and held out the paper. “Care to tell me what this is and where it came from?”

Sydney turned around to see the blasted letter in his clenched fist. She wouldn’t lie to him so she had no choice but to tell him the truth.

She sat down on the edge of her bed and patted the spot next to her. He crossed the room and sat down next to her.

“That is a sign of how crazy Rick really is.” Sydney swallowed back her tears. “That wasn’t here when you left but somehow he got in here. He was in my apartment and he left like a neon sign flashing danger precede with caution.”

Trent looked at the floor and spoke so soft she almost didn’t hear him, “And you weren’t even going to tell me?”

Sydney could hear the disbelief in his words, “Trent I don’t want to pull you any deeper into this. Maybe it would be best if you didn’t talk to me anymore. I know we’re just friends but he doesn’t know that. I mean did you really read that letter? He thinks were still married! He’s delusional.”

Trent sighed, “Sydney I know that’s what scares me. It’s like he’s in some kind of time warp. I’m not worried about me; I can handle the likes of him. But do you honestly think I could just walk away from you? I think we need to find a safe place for you to stay for a few days until we figure this out. I have no problem staying here or you staying with me but I am afraid he may be watching both of us.”

“Trent I do not want to put you or Kelsey in danger. I honestly don’t know how far he might go this time.”

Trent leaned back on the bed and stared at the ceiling fan as it whirled around. He didn’t know what to do. “Is there anybody you could stay with? Somewhere Rick wouldn’t think to look?”

“I could call Mac she wouldn’t mind if I crashed at her place for a few days.”

“Who is Mac?”

“You know Mackenzie Carter, the manager at the Café. She’s been on vacation but she was flying in tonight.”

Trent sat up and nodded his head, “Ok we’ll give her a call in the morning.”

Sydney reached over and took Trent’s hand and squeezed, “Trent thank you for, well everything.”

‘You’re welcome and Syd just for the record I’m not going anywhere. It would take a lot more than Rick Wells to get rid of me.”

Sydney found it hard to believe that Trent was here. She felt as if her heart might explode. She looked at Trent’s speculative eyes and wondered what was going on inside that head of his.

“Syd get some sleep. Trust me no one is getting in here tonight.”

Sydney could feel a smile tugging at her lips, ‘Trent did my mother pay you to be my body guard or to pretend to like me?”

“No why would you ask that?”

Sydney looked away embarrassed, “Because that’s what she does. She thinks she can buy anything and I really can’t think of any other reason you would be doing this for me.”

Trent got to his feet and looked at Sydney lying on the bed with her shirt revealing the skin above her cute little boxers. He felt his pulse jump at the hint of what might be under the thin black shirt. He chided himself and raised his eyes to her face, “Syd I would do anything for you and I’ve been watching out for you for a long time.”

Sydney sat up pulling her shirt down, ‘What do you mean by that?’

Trent winked at her, “Ask Ryan he’ll explain it to you.”

She winked back, “Fine I’ll ask Mr. Harper then.”

Trent walked to the door, “Sweet dreams Syd.”

“Night Trent and thanks