I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-Two

She whispered, 'Are you upset with him? Or is it Robert? Or is it nothing and you're pouting merely to pout?'

'Excuse me?'

'With you there doesn't necessarily have to be a reason so I was wondering if something happened or if you're simply being moody.'

I stared at her, bemused by the sharpness of her tone. 'I don't feel well. I'm going to bed. Take your...friend...to the airport and try not to talk about me during the course of the drive.' I headed the rest of the way up the stairs.

Alex followed, 'Is that what this is about? Because I mentioned you to Matthew?'

At the door to my room I turned back to her, 'I don't like being discussed.'

Her tone was logical, 'He asked me where you were for the evening. What would you have had me say?'

I hadn't thought of that and felt like a fool. 'Oh. Well...I...'

She pulled me to her and held me tightly. 'You don't have to say anything.' She stepped back but her arms remained draped around my waist. I could feel her watching me, but couldn't meet her eyes. Eventually I felt her fingertips beneath my chin. I forced myself to look her in the eyes and saw only softness. 'You must learn not to immediately think the worst.'

'I'll work on that.'

'Please do.' With her hands on both sides of my face she planted a kiss on my forehead. 'I'm going to be gone for some time, promise you'll eat something.'

'Okey dokey.'

Before she descended the stairs she asked, 'Oh, how was your evening?'

'Fine, thanks. Yours?' My stomach fluttered, I didn't want her to say anything positive.

'It was lovely.' She smiled a small smile and started down the stairs. I went back to bed vowing to not immediately think the worst from now on. I focused on the fact that she thought enough of me to mention me to other people in the first place. Especially someone like Matthew, whatever he was to her, he was obviously important on some level and she talked about me enough to bother him. That thought made me smile. I decided I'd lie down for a bit then have supper ready for her when she got back.

I was being plagued with fatigue again, that happened from time to time, where no matter how much I slept I only wanted to sleep more, or at least not get out of bed. Beginning to drift off, I thought how nice it would be to sleep in Alex's bed, as it was super soft and warm. And of course, Alex's. Then I remembered that he'd been in there a few hours before and couldn't bear the thought of maybe smelling him on her sheets. I briefly entertained the idea of washing her sheets. Perhaps I'd wait until she got home then wash my bedclothes and she'd follow my lead. With that happy plan in place I drifted off, glad it would be the two of us for another week before I'd have to face Anthony. God knows I needed the recoup time.

I had supper on the table when she shuffled in the door, shivering. I called to her, 'Hurry up, it's getting cold. I wasn't sure what time to expect you back so I think I started a bit early.'

After hanging up her coat she kneeled down and petted the dogs, 'Oh, that's all right, I didn't expect you to cook. That smells fantastic, Catherine! I'm famished.'

'Was the drive bad?' I was attempting to pour a pot of stew into a large tureen and concentrated on not making a mess.

She exhaled loudly, 'Barbaric.' She noticed me struggling and joined me at the counter, 'You hold the tureen.' I did as she bid and she used a large spoon to ladle enough out to make the pot manageable.

We sat down and served ourselves and she asked, 'So what happened this morning? Matthew said you were awfully tetchy.'

I sighed. 'Yeah, well. He called Robert my boyfriend and asked if I was hung over and I really don't care to have utter strangers asking how my evening went. I guess I am moody.'