This Can't Be Real

Chapter 18

Everything's dark in the house when we enter. Words haven't been exchanged during the car ride and even now we're walking up the stairs towards the bedrooms, nothing's being said.

With a hand on the small of my back, I allow Joe to guide to towards a bedroom. In the dark, I don't know what bedroom it'll be and as of right now, I could care less if it's the master bedroom or a spare bedroom. I just need time to myself to think.

Joe's hand leaves me back so he can open the closed double doors that are in front of us. He pushes them open wide enough for us to walk through and gestures for me to enter the room behind him.

I follow him closely as we turn the small corner to the left and I come to halt when my eyes take in the sight of the room we're now in.

It's dark wooden exterior is clear to make out in the darkness and with the soft moonlight streaming through the uncovered window that's in front of me, I can tell that it's the walk-in wardrobe. There's a large velvet covered tufted pouf ottoman in the middle of the room and floor is a light coloured carpet. There's a few items sitting on the table that's below the window and from where I'm standing, I can make some of them out.

There's a black leather box sitting at the furthest away side with a few items sitting on top of it. Jewellery is spaced out over the table, as well as some make-up items and a hairbrush or two. It's like what the top of my chest of drawers looks like at Jess's. If anything, it contains the same items.

"Leigh," Joe says softly.

I brake my stare at the table and look to him. He's standing to my left with a single hand stretched out for me to take and I do so willingly. My hand finds his and I walk till I get to his side.

"You can stay in here."

The lights slowly come on and I have to blink a few times before my eyes register the light and everything that's been unveiled before me.

I was right about the carpet being light and it fits in with the room nicely. There's a window at the far away end of the room and two sets of French doors on the right. In between the doors, there's a television mounted on the wall which is directly in front of the neatly made bed. The throw on the end of the bed is a chocolate colour and matches in with the curtains that have still to be drawn at the windows and doors.

There's a chair in the far away corner and from the looks of it, is the same colour as the bed frame which matches the ottoman that's in the walk-in wardrobe. It looks silver, close to being grey, and it fits in with the colour scheme in the room. The fact the nightstands are mirrored and that there's very little in the room makes it feel like home to me.

Then again, it is home for me on many aspects.

"Where-" I begin.

"I'm going to sleep in one of the spare bedrooms," Joe explains before I get a chance to ask. "Zachary isn't due home until tomorrow afternoon. We'll get everything sorted out before then."

I nod. If Joe wants me to stay here, it's clear that I'll be meeting my son tomorrow wither I like it or not.

Joe moves away from my side and walks back to the walk-in wardrobe. I walk further into the bedroom and come to a stop by the bed. My hands trace over the white quilt and comes to a stop when it reaches the pillows.

My head tilts to the side as I look at the picture frames that are on the nightstand next to the bed. The two silver picture frames are the only photos I've seen in this house. Granted, I've only been in two other rooms in the house, but I wasn't expecting there to be pictures here.

I take a seat on the edge of the bed and look more closely at the pictures. The large one of the two that's at the back is of Joe and I. We're smiling at each other and I'm pressed against him. His left hand is at the side of my face and I can spot his wedding ring on his ring finger which means that this photos was taken after we got married.