The Accidental Wife (Emily and Julian)

Rosie and I are going to attend a party tonight. This is the first party to attend with her according to Andrea's instructions. Rosie doesn't seem to be all right. She has been like that since yesterday and I don't know what's wrong with her. All I know is that I hate seeing her in this state...

"Rosie, if you don't want to go, we don't have to," I tell her when I see her standing in front of the mirror. She has been staring at her reflection for more than thirty seconds and I can tell that she is zoned out. I came to our bedroom a while ago to get dressed since the suit I wanted to wear wasn't at the guest room. I was going to take the suit back to my new bedroom, but she told me I was welcome to stay and get dressed in our bedroom.

"W-What? No, I'm good." She turns around and smiles at me, but just like she knows me like the back of her hand, I know her too. She's an open book to me and right now, I'm seeing a troubled version of her, which makes me feel that she's hiding something from me. "Is there anything you want to tell me? Did something happen? I ask, approaching her. I don't want her to think that I'm forcing her to talk, but at the same time, I don't want her to suffer in silence. I want her to be sure that I'll always have her back no matter what. She used to tell me that I was the shoulder she could lean on; however, I'm not sure if I'm still that shoulder.

"Nothing to worry about," she insists, keeping that fake smile on her face. I sigh and nod, not wanting to pressure her. I just hope that she turns to me if it gets too much.

"Okay, cupcake. I just want to make sure that everything is fine," I tell her with a smile.

We head to my car. We have a security guard and a driver with us tonight in the same car. I know that there will be many reporters tonight, so I don't want to divert my attention away from Rosie. There is also another car that's following us where three other guards are inside. I'm worried about Rosie. I don't want anything to threaten her sense of peace, so I want to provide her with enough protection.

After forty minutes, we arrive at the venue where the party is being held. The moment we step out of the car, we get blinded by camera flashes. I reach for Rosie's hand and hold it tightly, not wanting her hand to slip away from mine. She's not in her best state already, so I don't want to make her feel worse.

"Is it true that you two are getting a divorce?"

"Are you going to quit football, Silas?"

"How are you handling Silas's addiction, Rosie?"

"Do you feel ashamed that your husband is an addict, Rosie?"Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

My wife stops in her tracks upon hearing the last question. She looks mad as hell and it's rare to make her reach this state. I want to stop her before she says anything she may regret later, but I also know Rosie. She is rational and knows exactly what to say. She is not the one to be controlled or tamed. I trust her judgment.

"I will never be ashamed of Silas. I love him and I suggest you bury whatever ill thoughts you have six feet under," she confidently says before she gives my hand a gentle tug and we continue walking until we arrive inside the venue. "You didn't have to answer any of their questions, you know," I tell her once we reach our table.

"But I wanted to. I wasn't going to let them talk like that about you." I love that defensive side of her. She told the reporter that she loved me, and I want to ask her if she really meant it, but I'm scared of the answer.

"Thank you," I say with a smile before kissing her cheeks. It's been a while since I kissed her lips. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do that or not, but I want to kiss her. I miss the sweet taste of her lips and how soft they feel.

"Should we go say hi to some people?" she wonders. Not seeing the point of sitting. I agree, and we both get us. We greet some people and spend some time talking to others. During the whole time, I keep my hand or Rosie's back. I'm not doing is because I'm putting on a show, so everybody believes that we're okay. My hand is on her back because I want to feel her skin against mine. I want her to stay close to me because I miss how close we used to be physically and figuratively

"When are you returning to the field. Silas?" Somebody asks me

"In two weeks," I reply.

"I bet you're excited." he comments and I nod with a smile.

I can't wait to be back. I miss being with the team. I want to be back on the field and play as many games as I can. But as much as I'm excited, I'm also scared. I'm scared of getting a concussion again, because if that happens, the consequences will be grave. I'm dying to return to the field, but lately, I have been wondering if football is really the thing I want to do for at least the next ten or fifteen years of my life. I want to have a family with Rosie and if I want to be a parent, I need to put my children first. If I'm going to put them first, then I need to get a safe job. I don't want to be injured again in a way that would hinder me from playing or enjoying life with them.

"Do you want to dance?" Rosie asks me after we finish eating.

"Only if you want to," I say. She smiles and slips her hand into mine, then we both head to the dance floor.

Rosie loves dancing so much. Julian told me that she took that love from her mother.

"Are you feeling better?" I wonder, not forgetting how she looked when we were at home.

"Yes, better." She smiles at me. "I was just nervous about something, but all is well now."

I have a feeling that all is not well; however, I'm going to give her the time she needs until she's ready to talk.

When we get back to the table, she checks her phone, and the sudden change of her facial expressions tells me whatever she has just read is not pleasant.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"It's nothing. Forget it." Her answer is rather quick. I know that it's not nothing, but she doesn't want to talk, and I can't force her to do so. I don't know if she trusts me enough to tell me, but all I can do is keep my eyes on her and make sure she's okay.

COMMENT

0