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?”

a brow. “Won’t you be scared here all alone?” The room was

“No.”

Then I’ll go.” With that,

of him walking away was torment. “Don’t,” she said before she could

his tracks, turned, and

she forced herself

here, how will you make it up to me?” he asked, bending at the

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

How?”

But before she could finish, a searing kiss had covered her lips, a familiar scent filling

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

didn’t even look, just went to sit

atmosphere permeated the room, yet even so, she gradually drifted to sleep. Joseph

Seeing Joseph, he stopped short. “For

is more appropriate?” Joseph inquired

friend, while you’re

over, smiled coldly. “Has she said as much?” He had never once heard Kathy mention Bertie as

will too,” countered Bertie, sitting on an opposite end of the

had already woken Kathy, but she didn’t want to open her eyes. Yet with them both there, how could she sleep?

to stay with you?”

use feigning sleep any longer. Opening her eyes to see both handsome men,

Get some rest.” Joseph stood

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

don’t want to see me at

him. Once the room was quiet, for some reason she couldn’t fall asleep. All she

against the wall, watching Bertie exit. Bertie asked with narrowed eyes, “What, have you still

interested in