Stubborn Hearts

CHAPTER TEN

Kassie was no longer in the best of her moods when she reached the cabin. Her feet felt numb when she took off her sneakers and slumped exhausted on the soft couch. That was her fastest walk to date, and she was trying to catch her breath.

She stayed still for a moment, closed her eyes and calmed herself down. After a while, she stood and took the box of tart to the fridge. She was tired and was too drained to write. 

Resolved in taking an afternoon nap, she went upstairs, freshen up and took the comfort of the bed. She needed to boot up and refocus.

She woke up a few hours later and it was already dark outside. She grabbed her phone by the bedside to check on the time. It was already 7pm. 

She noticed some notifications from her sister in Messenger. Kayla sent her some links to check out which she understood as profiles of some well-known wedding organizers. She sent her a reply saying she would look into it tomorrow. Then, she went offline.

Knowing her persistent sister, she might just ring her up and she was just not in the mood for chitchat. Recalling their previous conversation, she snapped.

Gosh, Kassie. You have to stop it now.

Clearly, her body was rested but her mind wasn’t. She stomped her way downstairs and went straight to the fridge for the sweets and fresh milk. Peeking from her kitchen window, she noticed the neighbor’s lights were still out.

Date night. Back off, Kassie.

Even her own mind was angry at her. She thought of just getting three fruit tarts but then decided to take the whole box. She needed diversion and eating would keep her mind ticking, her senses alert. She prepared for another long night.

AWAKEN BY THE RINGING ON her phone, Kassie lazily grabbed her phone to check who dared disturb her at this very hour. She loved early mornings, yes, but not this one particularly. She was still lightheaded when she picked up the call. It was Kayla.

“Yes?” She answered, yawning.

“Oh dear, sorry. Did I wake you?” Kayla’s voice sounded a bit concerned.

“Unfortunately, but it’s okay. I’m already up,” she consoled and sat up, her back resting on the bed’s headboard. “What’s up?”

“Yeah, well...plan is to meet the wedding planner this weekend. And I’m still torn about who I should choose. I need to get back to them today. Can you please help me decide, check them out and let me know soon as you can?” Her sister was babbling and she understood she was under pressure.

“Sure. Just give me 10-15 minutes. I’ll check the profiles and call some friends for recommendations,” she answered. 

She heard Kayla let out a sigh, feeling relieved.

“Great, thank you! You’re a lifesaver!” She exclaimed then hung up.

Now, the pressure was on her. She made a few calls to some close friends who threw some lavish weddings. They surely would make it easier to decide. Once she collected a unanimous vote, she sent Kayla a message.

Her sister replied with a big heart emoji. She just shook her head.

All of that for an emoji. What a way to start her day. She took a quick shower to drain down the stress from last night. 

She started well and was already almost completing a chapter when she heard the sound of Marcus’ truck driving by, then listened closely as the engine stopped.

It was weirdly quiet, so she carefully went to her terrace door, peeking from the side frame like a jaguar watching its prey. 

His glass windows were clear, no curtains around, enough for anyone in her point of sight to witness a hazy view of what was happening inside.

The cottage lighted up and she could tell Marcus was in as she’d seen his frame going to the area which she figured was the kitchen. He took something from the fridge. 

A beer?

He drank it up then after a few minutes of standing still, she saw him glance up her way.

She quickly straightened up and hid behind the door, her heartbeat was racing. Did he see her? Gosh, she looked like a teenage p*****t caught the first time.

No, it was impossible. Her curtains were drawn and the lights she had in her room were on the bedside and on her study table.

With that consoling thought, she went back to her laptop and tried to take her mind back to mood. But, it never did.

So, in the hope of a fresh morning, she let the warm gush of water flow upon her.

Once done, she changed into a loose oversized shirt over faded sweatpants. She looked herself at the mirror - her eyes, no matter how much she glared, still looked puffed and tired. In order to lighten her mood, she applied some cool cream on her face, and put a bit around her eyes. She tapped both of her cheeks lightly, smiling, she went downstairs.

She was welcomed by a fresh morning air when she opened the front door. With a cup in hand and the rest of her tart, she sat comfortably at the patio and listened to the chirping birds above. 

Breathing in, she closed her eyes for a while, trying to clear his mind and connect with the sound of nature. 

She heard a gentle squeak to her side and opened her eyes to the sight of Marcus sitting on the chair next to her. He was wearing a half smile and looked fresh on his gray rock band shirt and black walking shorts. He, too, had a cup in hand. She noticed another box of tart was on the table.

“‘Morning,” he greeted as he shifted more comfortably on the bench.

“Hi, ‘morning” she managed.

She was still recovering from the sight of him and the woman in his truck, his coming home late and from the fear that he might have caught her peeping from her room.

Was he here to confront her about it? 

Out of reflex, she took a small sip from her cup, then offered him an awkward smile. She hoped the cool cream would somehow cover the blush on her face. She bent over and took one tart from her box on the small table.

“You’re up early,” he heard him say but held herself together and took a small bite of the pie.

She was slowly munching it and she sensed that Marcus was waiting for her response.

“I’m a morning person,” she replied after a while. She set her gaze up front, to the trailing trees along the driveway.

“Yeah, I noticed,” he answered and let out a soft chuckle.

She glanced at him, and felt a bit irritated. Of all the quiet mornings, this was definitely not something she would expect. If she was in the bestest of sense and had she not been where she was yesterday, this morning could have been perfect.

“Please, do tell,” she asked sarcastically.

He was grinning now.

“I thought you were taking a morning nap. You never even noticed me approaching until I was seated,” he explained. “If you were napping, sorry, I didn't mean to disturb.”

He sipped from his cup to avoid my squinting eyes.

“You’re making fun of me,” I concluded, my voice was flat. 

“No, no, I’m not,” he quickly said.

“Why come here this quiet morning?” She asked, then continued with her coffee.

Her uninterest in the conversation did not seem to bother his mood. Or maybe he chose not to be bothered, in contrast with her being affected by just his mere presence. 

“Well, just making sure I still have a neighbor,” he responded lightly. “So I brought some tart.”

“You’re not used to having a neighbor. Why bother now?”

He did not say anything for a second, then she heard him sigh. He gulped the last of his coffee and stood up.

She glanced at him and seeing his blank face made her regret her cold attitude.

“I get it, it’s not a good time. You look tired,” he looked at her with those hollow, guilt-piercing eyes. “Sorry for interrupting your quiet morning,” he added and left.

All she was capable of was to watch him silently walking back to his cottage. He was trying to be friendly to her, she thought, while she, on the other hand, was pushing him away. She was remorseful of her actions but she believed it was the only way to cut through whatever was growing inside her.

It had to be.

A sad smile escaped her lips. She tried to shift her focus back to her coffee and her pie, but her mind was drifting away somewhere.