When There Is Nothing Left But Love

A single wall separated the two rooms. Sound traveled easily across the balconies.

I rang the bell of the neighboring villa. Joseph answered the door. When he saw me, he started ever so slightly, then asked, “Mrs. Fuller, is something wrong?”

I paused, then smiled at him winningly. “Were you aware that we were neighbors?” It was peculiar that Joseph hadn’t asked me what I was doing here. Instead, he had immediately seized on something going awry.

Joseph’s eyes darted uneasily. He avoided the question altogether and exclaimed brightly, “Please come in!”

“No need for that,” I assured him. “It’s time for dinner, and you just moved in today. I suppose you haven’t had the time to cook. Would you like to join me?”

Joseph smiled but insisted on showing me in.

I felt it rather peculiar of him to do so. It all made sense to me, however, after I’d stepped and caught sight of the man himself seated on the grey couch and reading a book.

The one who had pushed for this move must have been Ashton rather than Joseph.

“Mrs. Fuller, let me get you a glass of water!” Joseph chirped, already darting out of the room in haste.

I remained standing where I was in the living room, tension creeping up my spine. I searched my mind frantically for something to say. Linda’s words flashed across my mind and I blurted, “Thank you for the ointment you sent me today afternoon!”

Ashton’s eyes never left his book. He casually turned a page, then replied coolly, “OK.”

Silence returned to the room.

I gulped, then continued, “Are you planning to stay here?”

intoned. He clearly didn’t seem interested in having a conversation with

“I’m guessing that you haven’t had anything to eat. I’ve already made dinner. Do you want to

shut. He got his feet and replied evenly, “All

word, he set his book

when he saw Ashton stalking out. Joseph hurriedly shoved the glass of

my head and replied, “No need. Come over and have dinner

“Thank

to stand on

the time we’d traipsed back to my place, Nora had already arrayed the dishes on the table. When she saw us enter, Nora beamed, remarking, “What a crowd we have today! It’s been

Turning towards Nora, I asked, “Did you call Mr. Murphy to

face coloring slightly. “He’ll be

her rather unusual reaction, I probed, “Is something the

a low voice,

didn’t seem surprised to see Ashton and merely greeted him rather matter-of-factly. We

suddenly had the peculiar feeling that everyone was privy to some information

Nora abruptly asked. I raised

at me encouragingly. “Are you spending it with anyone? Why don’t you

flabbergasted. What is this woman

had looked up from his plate. It was Joseph, however, who

the weekend besides,” Nora exclaimed. She enthusiastically shifted her attention to Armond, pressing, “Mr. Murphy, will you be going

usual collected self. He eyed Nora, then

thinking, Nora fired back, “I’m reserving you for

of violent coughing. Flustered, he reached out for the