Flowers for the Gardener by Sharon Maria Bidwell

Author:Sharon Maria Bidwell [Bidwell, Sharon Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2018-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Ethan jolted out of a troubled sleep. Took a moment for him to realise he’d heard his own snore. He rolled over and tried to tuck back under the covers, but now a dull ache set up residence in his skull. The type of headache which said no amount of lying in bed would do any good to help. Might make the pain worse.

What was the time? He turned the other way, vague concern seeping into his consciousness as he noticed the light level in the room. One glance at the bedside clock made him throw back the duvet. A dreamlike recollection came to him. Alarm clock buzzing. His flinging out a hand to silence the irritation.

“Fuck!” No time for a shower. No time to eat. So much for working to exhaustion again the other day in the hope of sleeping through the night. Didn’t know why he tried. He kept waking around two in the morning, and spent at least an hour struggling to return to sleep.

Head still muzzy, he tugged on work clothes and used fingers rather than a comb through his hair. He needed to piss and unable to abide not brushing his teeth he must make time for that, too. After washing his hands, he dragged wet fingers through strands of hair which persisted in sticking up, and ran out of the house.

Dan looked up from his work, expression blank, but he almost always did possess a vague abstract appearance, so no way to tell whether he disapproved. Not as Ethan should care, but hard to dole out lectures about time-keeping and hard work he failed to live up to.

“Had calls to make.” He gave Dan a nod and walked on by, back straight, trying to ignore the feeling the young man smirked behind his back.

Once more he would throw himself into jobs in the hope it would block out the rest of his life.

The attempt lasted for the first half hour before the recollection of Richard flat on his back, sensations wrought upon the man’s body by Ethan, wormed its way back into Ethan’s mind and heart. He took a short break to eat one of the stored peaches to help silence the grumbles of an empty belly, although, if the bitch up at the house saw, she’d likely accuse him of stealing. The sweetness did nothing to pacify. If anything, the flavour embittered his mind.

The land must be cursed, for it made his thoughts rancid. His future here looked bleak. Years of working on the Gardener estate with the chance he might end up like his father were a bad enough prospect, but to work here and watch Richard from afar…how to stomach it? He’d never wanted ‘just sex’. The lie managed to manoeuvre Richard into his bed, which was fine for a first time. Meaningless sex was like a purposeless job. Fine for a while, but not long term. Ethan had about done with his insignificant existence. More years of the same

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