Chapter 45 — Letter
810 Words
I threw myself onto the bed unceremoniously.
Now that Lena was gone, it was just me with my thoughts.
"Love…" I murmured.
(Would you still feel the same way when he's wrinkly and old?)
I groaned, kicking my legs against the mattress.
"What the hell are you doing, Rosie?"
A ping pulled me from my thoughts and toward my phone.
I snatched it up immediately.
Henry?
(The envelope is in your wardrobe, read it.)
I smirked, deciding to type my reply.
(Yes, Daddy.)
A read receipt showed he had seen my response, but after waiting for a good fifteen minutes—
"I give up," I said, huffing in annoyance.
I jumped off the bed before heading to my wardrobe.
I pushed it open, staring at the brown envelope with curiosity.
I grabbed it, unwrapped it as I walked back to my bed.
Once open, I pulled the letter out and began reading.
'Hey baby, I hope you're doing fine. I'm not really sure where to start, but I'm sorry about the way things went at the Goldwells and about how everything has been in general. I miss you a lot... Call me when you get this or... When you're no longer mad at me.'
I tossed the letter on the bed and reached for my phone instead.
By the second ring, a breathless voice picked up.
"Hey baby."
A smile graced my face.
"Hey mum, working out?" I asked.
"How did you know that?"
"Unless you're riding someone, I'd have to assume you're on a treadmill."
"Rosie!"
She gasped loudly, then a stumbling sound floated into my ears.
I chuckled softly, as the chaos in the background slowly settled.
"We seriously need to talk about your love life soon.”
“Trust me, mum. You don't wanna know,” I replied, shaking my head.
“Any boy I need to know about?”
A man actually, but I assure you—you do not need to know.
“No one for now?”
“I see… What about Andrew?”
I blanched loudly, causing mum to laugh.
“What?”
“He acts like a lost puppy, mum. Probably thinks I'm his f*****g guide or something.”
“That’s a shame… but isn't that sweet?”
“That's a boy's attitude, mum.”
“Well don't you want to date a boy?”
“I want a man, mummy.” I whined, pouting.
Your man, specifically.
“Hmm… What do you say we go to the Hunt Gallery when I get back? Heard there are a lot of influential and eligible men there.”
“I don't want old men.”
“I didn't say old, Rosie. I said influential men. They could be in their twenties or thirties, but they're what you'd call ‘men’.”
The idea should've excited me.
Meeting someone new.
Someone… age-appropriate.
Someone safe.
Instead, all I could think about was dark blue eyes behind glasses and the sound of Henry’s voice whenever he said my name.
But who knows…
Maybe my Mr right was out there somewhere and Lena was right after all.
“Hmm… alright then.” I replied finally.
“Took quite a while…” Mum mused. “How have you been?”
“Fine, fine.”
“How's Henry?”
“You talk to him every day, mum. Don't ask me,” I grumbled.
“Well, you see him every day, don't you? That reminds me. I sent him a text earlier, but he hasn't responded. Can you relay my message to him please?”
“Now?”
“Yes, darling.”
“Alright.” I groaned, heading for his room.
Knock, knock.
Nothing.
I pushed the door open, stepping in.
“Henry?”
Nothing.
I knocked on his bathroom, still nothing.
“He isn't in here, mum.”
“Check the gym room.”
“Alright.”
I made my way down the stairs, past the kitchen.
The harsh glare of the sunlight hit me as I pushed the sliding door open.
The cool title of the patio pressed against my bare feet as I made my way toward the door at the other end.
The sound of the treadmill drifted into my ears as soon as I opened the door.
“I think he's in here,” I said, walking closer. “Henry!”
No response.
“Maybe he has buds in,” Mum said.
I had just turned the corner—
“Hen—”
I paused.
“Is everything alright, Rosie?”
I vaguely heard mum ask, but her voice sounded as though it was far away.
My mouth fell open, stunned.
Oh, everything was alright… how couldn't it be?
When Henry was running shirtless on a treadmill…
Looking exactly like the kind of man capable of ruining my life.
And funny enough—
I didn't mind.
- Writer
