Chapter 42
Eleanor’s eyes turned icy as she suddenly stared at lan. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, and I’m not interested in fighting with you. If you want to go out, just go. I’ve got a splitting headache, so please, leave me alone.” With that, she turned and climbed the stairs.
Downstairs, lan froze for a moment. Then, without another word, he grabbed his coat, opened the front door, and left, slamming it behind him. The house was suddenly silent. The world felt still.
After a restless nap and a good sweat, Eleanor’s fever finally broke. She went downstairs and made herself a pot of soup. Just as she finished, the door opened.
Joslyn hurried inside, looking flustered. “Ma’am, you’re sick p>
Eleanor blinked in surprise-clearly, lan had called Joslyn back from her vacation. She managed a faint smile. “Yes, just a cold p>
“What would you like to eat? I can whip something up right now p>
“Could you make a couple of light appetizers for me? I’ve got soup going, so I’ll eat as soon as it’s ready p>
“Of course, I’ll get started right away.” Joslyn quickly tied on her apron and bustled into the kitchen.
On the third day of the new year, Eleanor didn’t visit her mother-in-law as usual. She wasn’t in any state to take care of her daughter, and she didn’t want Evelyn to worry. lan, for his part, didn’t come home again.
It wasn’t until the fifth day that Eleanor finally started to feel like herself. Joslyn took care of her meals with gentle care.
“Mr. Harris called earlier,” Joslyn mentioned with a smile as she set down a tray. “He wanted to know how you were doing p>
“Mm.” Eleanor acknowledged with a noncommittal nod.
“He’s just worried about you, you know.” Joslyn tried to say more.
Eleanor glanced up. “Joslyn, I still have a headache. I’d like some quiet p>
Joslyn gave an understanding smile and slipped away to her chores.
Eleanor knew she had to get better quickly. The lab’s new project was about to launch, and she couldn’t afford to let her health slow her down.
That evening, Eleanor was sprawled on the sofa watching TV, Princess the dog curled up and fast asleep in her lap. The door opened, and her daughter’s cheerful voice rang out.
“Mom! Mom, I’m home p>
Evelyn, her sweet little girl, bounced into the room. Princess leapt out of Eleanor’s arms and bounded over to greet her true owner.
“Princess, you’ve gotten so big!” Evelyn squatted down, grinning as she examined her furry friend.
Princess wagged her tail furiously, dancing around in welcome. Ian crouched down beside them, reaching out to ruffle Princess’s head. The dog nuzzled into his hand, eager for affection, and lan couldn’t help but scratch her behind the
ears.
“Mommy, Daddy said you were sick. Are you feeling better now?” Evelyn threw herself into Eleanor’s arms and looked up at her with wide, anxious eyes.
Eleanor smiled and nodded. “I’m all better, sweetheart p>
“Mom, I don’t want to go anywhere else. I just want to stay home with you and Princess,” Evelyn announced solemnly.
Eleanor stroked her daughter’s hair. “Good. I love having you here with me p>
“Daddy, you can’t go out either. You have to stay home with Mommy,” Evelyn insisted, trying to sound grown-up as she wagged her finger at lan.
lan’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Alright. I promise p>
At lunch, Joslyn served up a generous meal. Evelyn gnawed happily on a roast chicken drumstick, while Eleanor watched her daughter with a look full of love. Suddenly, someone placed a piece of braised scallop into Eleanor’s bowl.
Her eyes narrowed. Without thinking, she picked it up and dropped it into Evelyn’s bowl instead. Across the table, lan’s gaze lingered on her, unreadable.
The truth was, Eleanor actually wanted to eat that scallop. After a moment, she relented and took one for herself. Through the entire meal, lan hardly existed for her-he was little more than a ghost at the table, someone she never truly looked at.
When your heart no longer holds space for someone, their presence matters as little as the air around you.
That afternoon, Eleanor took Joslyn and Evelyn out to the nearby mall for a little shopping, followed by a stroll through the local park.
By ten that night, Eleanor was reading a bedtime story. Evelyn drifted off to sleep mid-sentence. Eleanor turned off the light and lay down beside her, finally letting herself relax.