The Curiosities Concerning Fate

∷ Chapter 38 ∷

A WEEK AFTER moving back to Rosewood Creek proved to be enough time to mull over her thoughts before Adine came to a decision. She figured from her last interaction with Sebastian that she hadn't told him about her father and after much deliberation, concluded that it was about time he knew the truth.

But before that, there was something she needed at Mr Mint's.

Benjamin and Kaye were only too eager to see her, greeting her as they normally would with warm hugs and cheerful words. Adine took the opportunity to rake up as much information on her mysterious husband as she could, but as suspected, found that no one in her circle knew who Sebastian was.

"I simply announced I would marry him?" she asked.

"We were just as surprised, but you seemed to be doing well after the marriage so we thought little of it," Benjamin explained. "You were insistent he was a good man, and we believed you."

He paused before adding, "Unless he did something to change your opinion of him?"

"He's been really nice," Adine said. "I'm just trying to piece together how we met. I can't seem to remember anything. It's a bit frustrating."

"I reckon it is," Kaye sympathised. "Though I doubt coming to Mr Mint's is going to help much. Sebastian doesn't come here often and we don't see much of him either."

Adine stayed for another half an hour before excusing herself to go upstairs. Unlike Rosewood Creek, her living quarters atop Mr Mint's exuded comfort in its familiarity. Nothing appeared out of place and if she didn't know any better, she would have assumed she still lived there.

She stopped next to her bed, getting down on all fours as she peered beneath the frame. She caught a glimpse of the dust-covered shoebox and reached for it, wrinkling her nose at the filth that had accumulated on its surface after years of neglect.

She sat with her legs tucked underneath her, staring at the box in silence. It housed everything she ever wanted to forget, the sight of which often had the ability to crush her and spark tiny flames of fear she assumed she'd doused long ago. She felt for the edge of the cover, ignoring the way her hands were trembling as her finger caught its side. She lifted the lid off the box before she could change her mind, exposing a mess of papers, photos and other pieces of documents.

Even after all these years, it was exactly as she had remembered: her father's insanity cramped in a rectangular shoebox.

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IT WAS LATE by the time Adine got back to Rosewood Creek, the shoebox placed next to her on the bed as she waited for Sebastian's shift to end. The closer it got to the anticipated time, the more nervous she became, to the point she was startled out of her wits when he finally did come home.

Sebastian stepped inside the bedroom, loosening his tie and walking past her only to stop about a step away as though he'd forgotten something. He backtracked and leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek before turning away quickly to hide his reddening cheeks. He wasn't quite used to being so open about his affections but he figured it was worth a try if he wanted to get anything genuine out of the relationship.

"Did you do anything interesting today?" he asked from within the confines of his closet where he'd retreated to grab a change of clothes.

"I went back to Mr Mint's," Adine said, glancing at the box next to her.