Roses and Sonatas [Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns]

Chapter 51

I stared at Laney, my face white with shock. Then I turned and began to make my way home, blindly stumbling as if drunk.

"Hold on, Alice—you're in no shape to be walking around by yourself right now! I'll help you get home," Laney said, putting an arm around me to steady me. I stammered out a thanks, and she guided me back to my house. I don't know if anybody saw us—if we met anyone on the road, I was not in any condition to notice. Somewhere in the back of my mind I felt even more grateful it was Monday—there was no way I could bear to see Cam right then.

Laney got me into my house, and after giving me a quick look over, she helped me change into pajamas and a robe. She made a pot of tea, then sat with me on my sofa. Watching me as she took a sip of her tea, she exclaimed, "When that boy gets home, he's got a lot of explaining to do. I'm not going to let him off easily this time! I don't know what he was thinking!"

I clutched my cup of tea and slowly shook my head. "No, Laney, please don't." She looked at me in surprise, and I went on. "This is something private between him and me. I... I hate that people are taking sides. I don't understand why Cam is acting this way, why he's doing these things. But I don't want to drag others into it. Maybe he's turning out to not be such a great husband... but that doesn't mean he's necessarily a bad person. This is his hometown—you all are the people he grew up with, his family and friends. I'm just an outsider in comparison. Please don't make him out to be the bad guy. Just... just treat each of us as you did before we got married, and let us deal with this as best we can."

She thought about it for a minute. "I don't know. It seems like if he's doing wrong by you, that we should tell him that we know what he's up to and that we don't think too highly of it. But... maybe you've got a point. Maybe we should just step back and give you two space to work things out, to whatever end. Before, I'd hoped that you'd get back together, that you'd resolve whatever it was that came between you. But now...."

I sighed. "Yes. But now. It doesn't look very promising, does it?" I shook my head. "It's funny... he's been unfairly accusing me of lying and cheating, and now he's turned around and done those very things to me. The only thing that's kept me apart from Mikhail this past week has been the slight hope that maybe—just maybe—Cam and I might yet patch things up. I mean, he's been so difficult, refusing to complete the requirements for divorce, I had myself half convinced that he regretted his words and wanted to get back together. But I... I guess not."

Laney was reluctant to leave me alone, as upset as I was, but she also was needed at the café, to help prepare for the dinner rush. So she breathed a sigh of relief when, upon hearing a knock on my door, she found Mikhail standing there, violin case in hand. "Oh, thank goodness it's you," she exclaimed, letting him in. "I'm so glad to see you!"

He looked at her with bewilderment as he slipped off his snowy shoes. "That's... kind of you?"

Laney pushed him towards the sitting area of the small house. "No, no—I mean... well, perhaps it's better for Alice to fill you in. I really need to get back to work, but I didn't want to leave her alone like this. If anyone can cheer her up right now, it'll be you, so I'll be on my way and let you two talk." She gave me a quick, reassuring hug and dashed out the door.

Mikhail set his violin down and hung his coat up, then he came over and sat next to me, looking worried. "Alice? What is it? What's happened? You're as white as a sheet! Are you feeling unwell? Is it the baby? Do I need to get you to the clinic?"

I shook my head, then picked up my untouched cup of now-cold tea and rose to make more tea. I was shaking so hard though, that Mikhail immediately pushed me back down on the sofa. "Stay here, I'll make the tea. Do you want mint? Are you feeling ill?" I nodded my head, and he took my cup and went into my kitchen.