I didn't really want to say. Whether it would have created a problem between him and his wife I wasn’t sure, but I definitely didn't want to be put in the middle of it. Then again, maybe he would understand things a little more, at least more so than Marie did.
"I know you've noticed me spending more time with Julien...”
“You mean to say that you are together,” Alain replied, smiling softly.
“Yes… We’re together…” I said.
“Love is beautiful. Why do you cry?”
“Because I’m not sure I’m good enough for him… Am I only attracted to him because of this?” I replied, waving toward the estate.
Alain scratched his head, finally coming to the realization of what I was getting at. He nodded his head slowly.
"Marie spoke to you…”
I just looked toward the ground, not wanting to catch his eye.
“She is very . . . how do we say? Protective. She has always been this way. Her heart sees differently than you or I. We weren’t able to have children of our own, so Julien? He is our child. He is a grown man, but she worries over him like child."
I took what he said to heart. I knew deep down that Alain was right, and Marie was just being protective of Julien, but I still felt she'd had overstepped a boundary. Or two.
"What do you think, though?"
He smiled at me and shook his head, being evasive. "My opinion is of no matter. You are a wonderful person. Julien is wonderful person. Birds of a feather…"
"Thank you for that, Alain. I guess I needed to be reassured."
He shrugged his shoulders. “Marie will come to understand. Give her time.”
The conversation was over. Alain stood up and gave me a light pat on the shoulder, and I smiled.
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Chapter 23
The rest of the evening had gone progressively well, considering. I tried to steer clear of Marie even though it was pretty hard to do so. Everywhere I went, she followed. I would be in one room, and she would be sweeping in the next room, scuffling about.
I paid it no mind and once my shift was over, I went to go relax and take a dip in my tub.
When I got back to my room I saw that I wasn’t alone. Sitting on my bed among the many fancy pillows was Julien. He raised a brow at me, beckoning for me to come to him. My body ached to slide into the comforts of hot water, but even so, there was some sort of pull from him. He wanted me near, and I couldn't deny him that.
He pulled me into his arms, letting me rest my head against his chest. His hands traced up and down my arms, warming me up.
"I heard what happened earlier… With Marie…”
Julien brushed his fingers across my face, attempting to soothe me. I turned away. I knew he was only trying to help, but I didn't want to be soothed—I wanted answers.
"And what do you think about what she said?" I asked, wondering if maybe he wasn't thinking the same thing himself.
Of course he wasn't… that would just be silly of him. If there was one thing I realized at that moment, it was that I had stopped thinking that Julien was plotting something against me. He clearly had feelings for me or I wouldn't be in the position I was in, literally or figuratively speaking.
"I told her how I feel… I told her she is wrong about you. Marie isn’t good at apologies, but I promise you, she is sorry for the things she said. She likes you, despite her apprehensions.”
Well, I definitely wasn't expecting that.
“She is just wary as she's always been. I ask that you please forgive her.”
I took a deep breath.