It was obvious just how much Mr. and Mrs. Everhart adored her.
That night, Gwh didn''t share a room with Leonie. Her period was making her feel pretty awful, and she didn''t want either of them to lose sleep over it.
For the next two days, both Leonie and Gwh stayed home, behaving themselves for once. Leonie knew Uncle Hawthorne would be back soon, so she wisely packed her bags and slipped out before he arrived.
She had no desire to be on the receiving end of Uncle Hawthorne''s piercing gaze; that was the sort of thing that gave her nightmares.
By the time Hawthorne returned, Gwh''s cramps had finally passed.
She''d perked up considerably. She wandered around the house, browsing the books in Hawthorne''s study, or stepped out into the garden to water the roses. Truthfully, the gardeners had everything under control, but with nothing else to do, she was bored out of her mind.
Victoria Turner, Chris, and Celia all video-chatted with her over those two days. Celia asked if Hawthorne was treating her well, but Gwh didn''t really know what to say. Since they''d arrived in Greenvale, Hawthorne had immediately left on a business trip. She''d actually thought Greenvale would be a kind of mini- honeymoon.
Chris, for once, kept his sarcasm in check. He just told her to rx, that everything at home was fine, and that they''d see each other at the wedding at the end of the year. "If you don''t want toe back before then, don''t," he said.
It was like he''d be a different person. Gwh figured Chris was just worried she''d get dumped, so he''d given up nagging her toe home.
Hawthorne was true to his word. Three dayster, he arrived home on a rainy afternoon.
He stepped inside, rain clinging to his coat, with a pair of bodyguards in tow, each hauling a massive suitcase.
Gwh frowned. She remembered him leaving with just one small bag for his personal things he hadn''t brought anything else.
"There are gifts for you in these," Hawthorne said, noticing her confusion. "Come take a look."
He shrugged off his coat and handed it to the butler, who immediately called a maid to hang it up. Then Hawthorne took Gwh''s hand and led her to the sofa.
She stared at him, surprised. Hadn''t she told him on the phone not to get her anything? What was all this?
The staff were already opening the suitcases in front of her.
Hawthorne reached in and pulled out a square ck velvet box. Inside was a full set of jewelry: delicate jade-green pendants shimmering around a teardrop-shaped
centerpiece, their luster framed by a chain of diamonds in varying sizes, all glittering brilliantly.
The other suitcases held perfumes, designer dresses, thetest shoes, handbags -Hawthorne had bought her one of everything he could imagine a woman might
want.
Thest suitcase Gwh opened was filled to the brim with feminine hygiene products, all in elegant, floral packaging. Thank goodness it was just the staff around, or she might have died of embarrassment.
Then Hawthorne fished a ck credit card out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"What''s this?" Gwh asked, though she knew perfectly well.
"It''s an additional card for my ount," he said. "From now on, if you want something, just use it."
Gwh looked at him, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
"I have my own money. I can buy whatever I want," she said.
Hawthorne pressed the card into her hand. "Your money is yours. This is an allowance from your husband."
Any more objections would have just seemed ungrateful.
"We''re married," Hawthorne continued. "It''s a husband''s duty to take care of his wife."
Gwh felt her cheeks flush. They
headed upstairs together, and Hawthorne, went straight to the bathroom. After days of work-and especially today, flying home as soon as hisst meeting ended-he exhausted.
was
Gwh watched him disappear
into the bathroom, her face still
warm. But she was still on her
period, so no matter what either of them might have been thinking, nothing was going to happen tonight. All she could do was snuggle into bed and, through the frosted ss, watch his blurred silhouette, thoughts wandering in every direction.