Love & Other Lessons by Susan Fanetti

Author:Susan Fanetti [Fanetti, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Oliver Works at It

Cora paused on the sidewalk. “Oh. You drive?”

Oliver sent her a look. “Of course I drive. Why would you think I didn’t?”

“I’ve only seen you walk or take the Métro.”

“It’s unpleasant to drive in Paris, and more unpleasant to attempt to park. But the cemetery isn’t in the city, and yes, I drive. I was mainly raised in the English countryside. I also lived four years in America, remember.”

She gave his car, a black Audi A7, a once-over. “It’s elegant.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her fingers. “Ready to get in?”

When she nodded, Oliver released her hand and opened the door. He’d never seen her get into a car before, and he couldn’t help but appreciate her grace, the way she managed to keep her slim legs, covered in black tights, together as she slipped in and settled.

“Do you want me to hold the wreath?” she asked, and Oliver considered the wreath in his hand. A Madeline special, made with love and care for his grandmother. A riot of beautiful flowers all in shades of yellow, Mamie’s favourite color.

Carefully, he handed it in, and Cora took it just as carefully.

“Thank you,” he said and closed the door.

He went around the back of the car. At the boot, a wave of disorientation struck him, and he stopped and put his hand on the car, steadying himself.

The past few days had been difficult. His insides felt puréed and then halved. To one side, he’d found Cora, and she’d welcomed him with an enthusiasm that mirrored his own. Since he’d first seen her in Madeline’s shop, he’d had moments of intense joy. Being with her was among the most powerful experiences of his life.

Which brought him to the other side: the utter terror. The thought that he could feel more deeply for her than she felt for him—he could hardly contend with it. It lurked at the edges of his mind, constantly poking at him while his back was turned, urging him to give up this madness and return to the life he knew. A life where sable-haired beauties with soulful eyes didn’t worm their way deeper into his mind and heart than he wanted. Deeper, perhaps, than he could bear.

Yesterday morning, when she’d told him to go—he couldn’t say that was the worst feeling he’d experienced in his life, but it was close enough that it took him the whole of the day to overcome it and work his way to an understanding that being without her offered no relief. She was already in his heart, taking measurements there, ordering draperies and carpets.

He’d been a cunt, and he knew he’d been a cunt a nanosecond after letting those cunty words out of his mouth. Asking to read her mail was bad enough. But then he’d lashed out, for no reason except that he’d felt alone in his vulnerability. Which was, frankly, typical.

He hated how much he hated that there was a serious relationship so close in her past. He hated even more that the man—Brandon; his mind said it like a schoolyard insult—wanted her back.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.