My Sweetheart

“One part is mine,” Joseph laughed in the face of Kathy’s expression.

Kathy shrugged. Getting out of bed, the two of them sat at the table. Joseph poured her soup, and added condiments for her, his ministrations precise and gentle. Kathy was at a loss. One day he’d treat another woman like this. The thought wrenched at her.

Impulsively she asked, “Hasn’t Grandfather pushed you to remarry?” She remembered that when she’d become part of their household, Grandfather had been quite nervous about their marriage.

“He hasn’t been around, so no.”

“Oh.”

“You really want me to remarry?” he feigned hurt.

She furrowed her brow. “Not really.”

“Why?”

“No reason,” Kathy replied, and left it at that. The thought of him marrying another woman was torture for her.

“If you don’t want me to, I won’t,” he told her seriously.

Hearing this, she looked up, unable to hide her surprise. “It’s your affair, not mine,” she said evenly, concealing her joy.

“Is that so?” Joseph asked, giving her a long hard look.

Kathy felt she could hide nothing from him. “Of course it is. Or else what?” she countered.

He laughed lowly. “I don’t want to hurt my ex-wife.”

“You won’t,” she insisted.

He stayed with her till that evening, to the point where she asked him, “Won’t you go home?”

brow. “Won’t you be scared here all alone?” The room was VIP, quite large, yet

“No.”

Then I’ll go.” With

Kathy’s face crumpled. Just the sight of him walking away was torment. “Don’t,” she said before

in his tracks, turned, and asked pointedly,

forced

I keep you company here, how will you make it up to me?” he asked, bending

hard, her face turning red. He was enticing her on purpose! Regaining her senses, she said, “I

right. How?” he asked

searing kiss had covered her lips, a familiar scent filling her nose. Her eyes went wide in shock. He settled her against the head of the bed, wrapped her up

wanted to push him away, but the kiss didn’t last long anyway. Breathing deeply, she forced herself

a tissue to scrub at her lips. He didn’t even look, just went to sit on the sofa

yet even so, she gradually drifted to sleep. Joseph

then, Bertie arrived. Seeing Joseph, he stopped short. “For you to be here isn’t

being here is more appropriate?”

Kathy’s friend, while you’re

never once heard Kathy mention Bertie as a friend. At this, Bertie’s

countered Bertie, sitting on an opposite end of the sofa.

Kathy, but she didn’t want to open her

who do you want to stay with you?” Joseph asked, knowing

any longer. Opening her eyes to see both handsome men, she felt

rest.” Joseph

Bertie, his expression determined, did not. Sternly Kathy said, “Bertie, I’m tired. Can you

really don’t want to see me

right,” she replied immediately. She wanted no contact with him. Once the room was quiet, for some reason she couldn’t fall asleep. All she could think of was Joseph’s kiss, and the infatuation it

door, Joseph leaned against the wall, watching Bertie exit. Bertie asked with narrowed eyes, “What, have

you very interested in