Page 64 of Butterfly
Sienna
MY CHEEKS ARE hurting from all the smiling, although I’m not sure why I need to fake smile at Alex’s family.
Bethany has been nothing but kind to me, and Charles and Fiona are chatting, relaxed and friendly. Yet my skin pricks with anxiety, and my hands are clammy like before an exam.
I sit on the sofa next to Alex, holding my hot cup of tea. Alex, Charles, and their mum are essentially doppelgangers. Same grey eyes, same raven hair, and same lips. Bethany is only a more feminine version of her sons, with a delicate jaw and a cute nose. A stunner, all long legs and slim waist, with a few grey strands of hair that add an aristocratic air to her elegant figure. Instead, Fiona stands out with her short strawberry-blonde hair styled in a pixie cut that enhances her green eyes. Charles wouldn’t have any problems working as a model. He isn’t as broad and strapping as Alex is, but has the lean and strong body of someone who spends a lot of time in the gym. Beauty is intimidating.
“So, you are the mystery girl lost in the forest.” Charles smiles. “I didn’t think you were real when Alex went wild, talking about—”
“Charles,” Alex growls.
I don’t have time to reply.
“Love that you’re a vet.” Fiona pats my shoulder from her armchair. “We’re colleagues, of sorts. I’m a GP, working at the local clinic. I do some minor surgeries, but nothing too complicated.” She strokes Dart’s head, who closes his eyes in bliss. “We heard you saved Dart.”
“The wound wasn’t as deep as I’d thought at first.” I force myself not to smile again. It’d be creepy. “But he lost a lot of blood, and I had to clamp the artery and stitch through sliced tissue.”
“She was brilliant,” Alex says. “She’s just being modest.”
My cheeks flame. “I don’t think so,” I mutter.
“Do you like the tree?” Fiona asks, her tone cheerful.
“It’s amazing.” It really is.
It must be seven feet tall, decorated with golden lights, dark-red baubles, and tiny stuffed toys shaped like angels. Boxes of every size and shape cram the space underneath the tree, including the presents I bought for Alex’s family. Some have a huge bow on the top, and others have— “My name!” I say, interrupting Alex and Charles talking about how good it is to have Alex home. “There are presents with my name.”
“Of course.” Bethany puts her cup down. “Did you think you wouldn’t get any Christmas presents?”
Alex takes my hand, and my breath catches in a mix of bursting joy and anxiety. I’m not sure why receiving presents from strangers should start a quiver in the pit of my stomach, but then again, I’m not sure about a lot of stuff. Besides, that’s the whole point of Christmas, exchanging presents, and I didn’t come empty-handed. So shut up, anxiety.
Every gaze is on me with concern. Bethany is frowning. Fiona is studying me with clinical interest, and Charles scratches his chin in the same way as Alex does when he’s puzzled by something. That something being me. I must look like an idiot, sitting here with my mouth open, shivering despite the roaring fire in the hearth.
I clear my voice and stare at my tea. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Bethany says.
“I need the loo.” Geez, that’s oversharing. I stand up and leave the room but pause, not having the foggiest idea where I should go.
“This way, darling.” Bethany takes my elbow and leads me to the end of the corridor. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes, thanks. Lovely. Fine, all fine.” Gosh, what’s happening to me?
“I’m sorry if we made you uncomfortable.”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing that you did, and I’m not uncomfortable, simply surprised.” If only I could lower the high-pitched tone of my voice.
She puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “If we do something that makes you uncomfortable in any way, I’d like you to tell me.” She has the same intensity as Alex when he’s saying something he cares about.
“Of course.”
“Good. I count on that. You’re going to stay here for a few days, and I want you to have a good memory of this Christmas.” She opens the door next to her. “This is the ground-floor bathroom. There’s a small one in the laundry behind the kitchen, another on the first floor, and I gave you the ensuite bedroom upstairs.”
All her attention makes me a little uncomfortable, but also taken care of. “Thank you.” I lean against the bathroom door once I shut myself in. This holiday is going to either break me or put me together. Either way, it’s going to be painful.
~ * ~
AFTER A DELICIOUS dinner of shepherd’s pie and parsnip, Charles is deep in conversation with Alex about the reason why house prices are going up so quickly. As if it were an issue for Alex. Okay, I’m being a bitch here. But he can afford a two-million-pound house. Fiona is on her phone, and Dart is snoring in front of the fire.