"Why do you do it? Why do you live here?" I asked suddenly the question I had always wondered. Jace was strong, good looking and most importantly, smart. He could have been anything he chose. The farm was simply a legacy from his great great grandparents, pass down generation but it didn't have to be his lifework and it wasn't as if he were indebted to the bank or anything. Jace was rich. Rich from his own makings and that from his parents. I knew because trusty Nikki had complained more than once how fate was unfair. How she had to slog it out in the city while, Jace enjoyed it in the country, raking in millions no matter where he was.
But then you really could trade on the stock exchange and commodity markets anywhere. It was how Erick topped up tge bulk of his money anyhow.
I looked expectantly at Jace. It was bold of me to question him so but then I have been mouselike for too long. It was time I simply spoke my mind.
"I love it here," Jace started by stating what I already know. "I love the quiet.It lets me think. The clutter in the cities give me a headache. I start feeling claustrophobic as soon as I get into city limits. Then I simply start craving my farm and the countdown for my return begins."
Again, that was nothing I didn't already know. What I wanted to know was..., "Why?"
"Why?" Jace looked in askance at me.
"You were not always like that. There were times you were more. You did more. You lived in the city. Why did you leave...then never returned?" I asked boldly.
Jace stared at me a moment. His stare was intense and unnerving. But I kept his gaze captured in mine. I would not relent. My time with Eric has thought me persistence if nothing else. I would prevail. It was rather shameful, I thought, that despite all these years of pining for Jace, I really knew nothing about him. Nothing that truly mattered. For instance, why was he still single?
"There's a lot about me that you don't really know, Jo. I think you've been away for too long to just pick up again where you left off. Let's keep this simple shall we," Jace remarked coolly.
I froze. I have never experienced such a chilly set down from Jace before... not from anyone else either. I stared at him in shock.
But Jace only ignored me. He bent back to his meal polishing his plate clean before taking refills. I ,myself was facing a sudden loss in appetite.
I sat there fiddling with my spoon not attempting anymore conversations till he was done with his meal and I could start to clean up the dishes and put away the leftovers.
I worked swiftly wanting nothing more than to retreat to my room and well, mope.
What I really wanted was to run away... again but I was too far from everything as it were. There was also mo more places I could run to. So I did whst my sensible self told me to do. I stripped down and lay on my bed. After an empty blink or two of staring at the familiar ceiling, I was out like light.
