Chapter 102
I have to protect him. And I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep him safe.
Suspiciously, Arthur doesn’t come home all day or evening and I don’t hear from him once. By the time I’m putting Miles to bed and I still haven’t seen or heard from Arthur, I’m beginning to wonder if he’s with Selina.
I know, of course, that I shouldn’t technically care if he’s with her. I shouldn’t care where he is at all, honestly.
But I can’t help it. The thought of him with her, sinking her claws into his neck like the she–wolf she is, makes me uncomfortable.
I try not to think about it, and instead get to work in my studio. I finish up the rainy diner painting and move onto the next: a television, the screen blaring with static, sitting in the middle of a dark room.
I’m halfway through sketching out the outline of the image when I receive an email on my phone. Opening it, my chest lurches with excitement.
“Dear Flora,” the email reads. “It is with great pleasure that we inform you that your initial residency application to Abbott Gallery has been accepted! However, this is just the preliminary application; please prepare a presentation on your body of work for the second round. Best of luck to you.”
The email fills me with hope for the first time all day, and I get right to work on my presentation. I spend hours sitting on the floor of my studio with my laptop in front of me, ensuring that my presentation is absolutely perfect.
It has to be, because I need this residency. Not only will the funds be massively helpful right now, but the temporary housing would be a perfect solution to many of my troubles. It will allow Miles and me to get out of Arthur’s home, and more importantly, away from Selina.
I spend most of the night working, only trudging to bed in the guest room when it’s past three in the morning. I pass out the second my head hits the pillow.
The following morning, I wake up to the sensation of tiny kitten paws batting at my toes through the blankets. I crack my eyes open to find Scout playing around my feet. Miles is gone, likely scrounging through the kitchen for
breakfast.
Yawning, I pull on my robe then scoop the little orange kitten up, scratching his ears as I make my way downstairs.
“How does a saucer of milk sound, little guy?” I coo, rubbing him beneath the chin. The kitten purrs happily, making me smile. I hope the artist residency allows cats in the apartment.
As I round the corner to the kitchen, something catches my eye in the living room. I walk over to see Arthur laying on the couch, and my heart stops in my chest. He’s not alone.
Miles is sleeping on his chest, sucking his thumb. Arthur’s arms are wrapped securely around him, his face softened in sleep, that lone curl falling across his forehead. He’s still wearing his white button–down, the top button undone, and his work trousers as if he came home from the office and fell asleep right away.
For a moment, I just stare at the scene, my heart breaking in a thousand places.
They look so… peaceful. At ease. As if they’ve never slept properly until this moment.
And suddenly, the thought of leaving almost makes me sick If only they could have countless mornings like this, snuggling together on the sofa before Miles is too old to enjoy such things.
If only…
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Chapter 102
Just then, the doorbell rings, startling Scout out of my arms. He leaps to the floor with grace, scampering beneath the couch. Arthur’s eyes snap open and lock on me right away, making my face heat.
“I was just “I begin, realizing I’ve been caught staring.
But Arthur is already getting up, carefully placing the stirring Miles on the sofa.
“That’ll be the nanny,” he says, brushing his hair back as he makes his way to the front door.
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