Chapter 47
A Choice In The Midst Of Danger
Elena
The house was quiet when I walked in and I finally heaved a sigh of relief, Lily had gone to school and finally I could have some peace.
Too soon. The thought had barely registered in my mind when Jenna poked her head around the corner, her gaze searching.
"You're back," she said, smiling but I could feel the deluge of questions that hid behind her smile.
I'd come back home a few days ago, Lily was over the moon and she'd literally been glued to me all day, I'd felt very guilty about it so I'd spent all my time with her, trying to make it up.
"Lily says she wants to be a ballerina for Halloween," I chuckled drily, forcing a smile. "You're still home?" I asked. Normally Jenna would've headed to work by the time I came back.
"There was a small emergency yesterday," Jenna mumbled through a mouthful of cereal she'd prepared. "So we're having the day off."
I nodded in understanding.
"It's about time you spoke to me, Elena," Jenna kept the bowl aside and stared at me. "You haven't said a word since you came back and I'm worried."
"This—" I hesitated and my eyes clouded over as I recalled how I'd left Damien's place. Things were developing far too quickly between us and I needed to put some distance between the both of us.
That was a nice way to put it I thought, smiling bitterly. A not so nice way of putting it was that I'd fled his house like a scared kitty.
I'd realized I couldn't stay with Damien, his action of tearing the contract into pieces had shocked me but a part of me was secretly touched. He hadn't had to do that but he had, and I couldn't help but wonder why.
Did he have feelings for me? The thought came out of nowhere and I stiffened but I shook my head, denying it immediately.
"Hey!" Jenna snapped her fingers before me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Did you hear a word of what I just said?"
"I…" I trailed off, shaking my head.
"That's exactly what I'm saying Elena," Jenna's eyes softened as she looked at me. "You have feelings for him don't you?"
"What?" Her words stunned me and I stared at her with disbelief, "I…" The words hooked in my throat and I couldn't say a word in my defense.
Did I really have feelings for Damien? Impossible! I shook my head, he was the same man I'd run away from months ago, how could I have feelings for him?
But even as I denied it, thoughts and images filled my head from the last couple of days I'd spent with Damien and I felt conflicted.
What did I really feel?
"Does he know you've recovered your memories?" Jenna pressed, seeing me silent.
"He doesn't," I shook my head. "I won't tell him," I whispered, meeting Jenna's gaze. I couldn't imagine Damien's reaction when I told him that I'd been lying all this while, I could imagine he'd get furious with me.
"What do you want to do now, Elena?" Jenna stared at me, "You've been home for days, what's your plan?"
"I—" I stared into space and my vision blurred, "I don't know." That was the truth, I'd spent the last few days filling my hours with activities because I didn't want to think about it. I was at a total loss, I couldn't lie to myself that I didn't feel an ounce of anything for Damien after all this but…
"Take your time Elena," Jenna patted my cheek at that moment. "I'll be upstairs if you need anything," she smiled at me before taking her bowl of cereal and heading upstairs.
I stared at her figure as she disappeared up the stairs and I sighed. I had a decision to make but I didn't want to think about any of this, at least not now.
I got to my feet and headed to the kitchen, hell-bent on finding something to do. I spent the next few hours doing everything from cleaning the kitchen to weeding the little garden in the backyard, the work helped calm my nerves.
I'd just finished taking my bath when my cell phone rang, breaking the silence. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the name on the screen; Damien.
Why was he calling me? I wondered, staring at the screen. I hesitated for a long moment before I decided not to pick, I couldn't even conjure up the answers to the questions I was sure he was going to ask.
I'd just finished dressing when the cell phone buzzed again, making me freeze but I relaxed when I checked. It was just an alarm—it was time to pick Lily up from school.
Jenna was asleep when I checked on her so I dropped her a note before I left, taking the car. Lily's school wasn't far from the house, it was on Jenna's route to work.
I'd just paused at a red traffic light when my phone buzzed again, it was Damien. I frowned, a bad feeling rising within me.
Damien had never called me more than once, could it be that something was wrong? Project Houston? My pulse quickened and I decided to pick, however, the lights blinked green at that moment and I had to drive forward so I kept the cell phone aside.
I drove forward, my eyes on the lookout for a parking space then I found one and parked. I picked the cell phone, ready to call Damien when a text came in from him.
I opened it, my eyes quickly scanning across the words on the screen.
"It's not safe, text me your present location. I'll come get you."
What! I felt the blood drain from my face and my hands holding the cell phone shook. What did he mean it wasn't safe? If I didn't know Damien well I'd think it was a prank but I knew him and so this scared me.
Something that was bad enough for Damien to say it wasn't safe, it was beyond me.
But what could it be?