AFFECTION

FORTY

HOPE WELLINGTON

Things changed for us. Like a lot much. For once, the struggle inside me had seized. And i had started breathing without a burden on my heart. His embrace, it no more looked like a rescue camp, more like a home. I hugged him more freely. And i felt more free. I realised I do have a right on him, and now I did not struggle much with inferiority.

He liked me at some point. But he didn't act on it due to valid reasons. That alone addresses so many insecurities i harbored over myself. I realised he admired me more than I ever realised, and that admiration is what kept us far. And I'd be wrong to hate that distance because it gave him Venus. And she was everything i would have hated to be. She was with him in his recklessness, in his moments of treachery. She fought him, she corrected him. I would have probably broken down handling him. What I got was a groomed man, who knew how to treat people with respect. Who knew how to remain loyal. And who knew how to treat me well. So was i grateful to her? I would worship the period of her existence until i exist.

Today was Nonna's birthday and David, himself took initiative to organise a get together for her. We were all currently at her mansion. And i was getting ready in David's room, a place where I never entered willingly before. Last time I came here, I saw him puking because of his liver issues. We have experienced so much since then.

Oliver was a charm tonight. He was reciting a poem to everyone who asked for it. Throwing his wide grin at people, he'd talk to them like he's out there to make some business deals.

"Hope...fix this tie. Nonna loves a proper formal look. And if I wear any less, I am not going to hear the end of it."

I smiled and took hold of his tie, "It looks good on you."

"Hmm...I'm being appreciated. For my immense beauty. And with a smile. I guess someone is falling in love."

A red tint appeared on my face, i could feel it getting warm. Give him the credit to make things worse for me.

"Let me focus."

Oliver was already ready and downstairs with his grandmothers. But this man here, he was no less a task.

"Here! Just tighten it a little.", I fixed the tie, until it looked perfect, sitting in the centre of his collar, "And one warning for you. Don't drink something that isn't water. And if I see you anywhere near that drinking corner, there will be consequences."

He looked warily at me, "Standing there doesn't mean I'll drink something."

I shook my head, "Standing there means you'd be tempted to drink. And then you'd resist hard. So it's better to stay away."

He smiled at that and stood there, as I moved to fixing my own hair. I usually got it styled for occasions like these, but today I wanted open waves, and somehow, it suited my lavender dress.

"Stop staring David."

"Can't help. You look like some blueberry icecream."

"It's lavender."

"Who cares. As long as you are wearing it..."

He sat on the chair before the dressing table but faced me, "I wanted to give you a heads up. We have some guests from Nonna's maternal side. And well, they are not that kind."

"Not kind...as in?", I asked while applying the lipstick. He was coming in between the mirror and me, but give it to David for being the most annoying man on earth.

"Uhm...they were not kind to Venus. Actually they have a problem with me. I was with this family for years, owned a great fortune. So everyone expected James would formally adopt me and get me an Ashton title, and ofcourse merge my wealth with his. But James is a stubborn man. He didn't want to erase the traces of his friend. So he kept the name, and the fortune intact. That's how I am still a Wellington. And Nonna's relatives have a few set of daughters. Eric is simply an unyielding man, so they expected me to return the favour by marrying someone in Nonna's family. I didn't. So first Venus had to face a lot of criticism. It was only twice she met them, but they were vicious. Also because Venus herself didn't come from an influential background. Now it's you."