Stay with Me by Awesomekristii (jenna bush book club .TXT) 📖

DELILAH

I looked at the clock resting on the wall opposite the kitchen, and it was already past dinner time. Damien hadn’t come back, since the morning when he left with his anger. I didn’t even know how many times I called him, but neither he received nor called back.

The previous feeling of guilt eating me up from inside, I couldn’t even guess that it was this precious to him, otherwise, I would have never taken it from the library and read it.

I took the phone and began to call him back again. That’s gonna be the nth time.

‘The number you’re trying to call is currently not answering, please leave a message after the beep.’

I set down the phone, disheartened. Not having any other way, I thought of dialing Steven.

“Hey, sister!” I almost smiled hearing his cheerful voice.

“Hi. Is Damien there with you?” There was some shuffling sound in the background before I heard him say, “No.”

“Oh…” I sighed, not knowing what to do anymore. I just hoped he was well and safe. I have witnessed his anger a count full of times, but never towards me. But, even now I could view this from his point of view, and that caused the guilt to swirl inside me like havoc.

I heard him say something to someone, but I couldn’t make out. It was after a long while, that I heard him curse, “Fuck you, I’m gonna tell her the truth.”

I heard him say in the call for me this time I guess, “Hello, Dee you there?”

“Yes.”

“He is here with me, we are watching the baseball match. I don’t know what happened to this fucker, but don’t worry about him. I will try to send him back soon.”

“Thank you, Stev.”

“No issues, take care.” And the call was disconnected. I felt a little better knowing he was safe, but what pained me more was he didn’t want to come back to his house because I was here, and didn’t even want me to know about his whereabouts.

I looked at the cooked lunch, and my stomach tightened, not having the wish to eat anything. I grabbed an OJ from the freeze, and settled on the couch. Maybe I could just wait till he came back and then apologize to him.

•••••••

The bright light from the sun made a groan escape my lips. I had definitely forgotten to pull the blinds, and now I had to receive the consequences. My mind was foggy with sleep when I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be there.

Looking down at myself, I found the bed I always sleep in, my dress changed into the might suit and the sheet pulled over me. My hand found its way to the place beside me and I found it cold and empty. Either he didn’t sleep with me here or woke up too early.

I sighed feeling the emptiness inside me again. My hand gripping my tee, my stomach fluttering at his care, and evoking a little of how maybe I could fix this very soon after he didn’t hate me I guess otherwise he wouldn’t have done that… But then I sighed and acknowledge that he would have definitely done that even if he had hated me. He was that kind of a soul.

Running my fingers through my hair knots, I stood up and walked to the washroom to freshen up, before reaching downstairs.

My stomach growled seeing the pancakes stacked on there, covered and the maple syrup put beside it in the jar. I looked around for any sign of him, but nothing. Nada.

Despite the delicious food on the counter, I felt my hunger dying with each passing second. Nibbling on my lower lips, I sat on the stool and began to have breakfast. That shouldn’t go to waste.

When I was in the middle of my feast, I found Damien walking out of his home office, the coat unusually hanging on his arms instead of fitting itself tough and perfect around his broad shoulders.

Instant happiness filled my stomach, and devouring the last of the breakfast, I stood up, placed the plate in the sink, and began to walk towards him.

“Good morning!” He didn’t answer, as he busied himself with wearing the watch. I gulped down feeling nervous at his silence.

“Thanks for the breakfast. It was delicious.” He didn’t give away anything. His face was as cold and steel as the beginning days when I meet him. It broke my heart, feeling him so distant.

Taking the files from the tea table he began to walk away. “I want to say something.” I nibbled on my lips, feeling the tension rising inside me.

Taking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes and said, “I'm sorry. I'm really so sorry, Damien for reading the diary. I have never thought it was that precious to you otherwise I would have never read it. Please forgive me. I would never touch anything of yours until and unless confirmed by you… pl-“ I opened my eyes feeling the lack of expressions in hearing and found him gone.

The chilly wind felt extra cold on my dance even when we are in the mid of April. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, and the bile rising. The breakfast almost tumbling inside my stomach I just had.

What should I do?

••••••

I rubbed the remnants of the tears that stained my cheeks, as I eyed the picture I took that day in the museum. Damien for the first time in any pic wasn’t scowling or frowning, he had a tiny smile hidden in there, the one once reserved for me.

I sighed, looking down at my hands laying on my lap, the sickening feeling of guilt eating me up. The story of Zelena was something he never wanted anyone to get a hint of and I was too late to know that.

That morning I rang up Grandma, knowing only she could tell me more about her, and any way out of the misery I was living in.

“Hello, sweetheart. How are you doing?” I smiled hearing her voice. It had such a calming vibe in her timbre.