Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

Obstruction

tw: mentions of a past miscarriage, drunken vomiting

     "What?"

     "I can't give you the house. I'm sorry," Theodore repeated into the telephone. "I've thought this through, and I can't."

    Theodore looked over at where Ashton was sitting, rolling his eyes. Ashton chuckled in response, waiting patiently for the conversation to finish. He was honestly only there for moral support, which Theodore greatly appreciated.

     "Well, this certainly mars our plans, Theodore," Sydney replied. Teddy twirled the telephone wire around his finger.

     "I'm sure it does, and I'm sorry about that," Theodore answered, trying to sound like he cared. "Honestly, Sydney. I don't think you would have been happy there anyway. The house is very isolated, and you're used to the city."

     "I suppose," Sydney reluctantly replied. "Well, I'll tell Alice. I have to go now; we're meeting with the Bennetts."

     "Of course," Theodore replied, trying to ignore how his heart squeezed in on itself.

     "I believe their daughter will be there. Should I say hello for you?"

     "No," Theodore replied. "No, I don't think she wants to hear from me."

     Sydney hummed from the other side of the telephone.

     "I see. Well, goodbye."

    "Bye," Theodore said pointedly, quick to hang up the telephone. The fewer interactions he had with that man, the better. With a sigh, Teddy turned to Ashton.

     "That man is going to give me an aneurysm," Theodore announced, causing his roommate to chuckle as he stood.

     "You've had a rough go of it for the past few weeks, haven't you?"

    Theodore hummed as they stepped out of the room and started the walk back to their room. 

    "You know, Dansworth and Monty were talking about going out on Saturday. After you two are back from the rugby game. I don't think they'd mind if we went with them."

     Theodore considered the words for a moment, then nodded.

    "Why not? Can't be all that bad, can it?"

     Abigail knew what she was doing when she agreed to go to that dinner with her parents. Afterwards, she hated herself for it. Somedays, she forgot that Theodore had done anything to her. All she remembered was the look on his face when she said those words.

    Here she was, getting ready to have dinner with the family that had thrown him aside. Apparently, that's who she was now.

     "You're overthinking it," Violet insisted after Abi voiced these thoughts. Though Joey lived with her in the boarding house, she was useless when it came to getting ready for any events. So, Abi called on Violet, who was now working on her hair. It was long enough to do in a Chignon style now, which was a recent development after she had taken to cutting it to her shoulders. 

    "How?"

     "You're visiting family friends," Violet insisted. "Sure, they happen to be his estranged family, but that's not why you're going."

    Abi hummed in consideration, looking at herself in the mirror. She'd worn the earrings and necklace from Andreas, which matched the green dress that she had chosen for the occasion.

    "You look classy," Violet insisted, to which Abi smiled. "It'll be alright. Besides, it's not like he knows that you're going."

    "I keep regretting it," Abi admitted. Violet furrowed her brow.