Page 75 of Captured Solace

She took her heels off and jumped barefoot onto the pier. For a moment she stood looking at me with her shoes in her hand and then she shook her head.

“You don’t want to be alone, Viktor. Go find your wife, make things better. Some people are worth it.”

My throat tightened and I watched her walk up the pier and disappear over the crest of the hill.

Chapter Seventeen

Sienna

The world shattered when he left and there was nothing but stillness and the quiet keening of birds over the marsh. I wandered the house for the rest of the afternoon, hoping he would change his mind and come back. Every sound outside sent me running to the window, my heart racing, only to be met with gut-wrenching disappointment.

The night was long and I tossed and turned fitfully, wondering where he was and what he was going. Perhaps he’d gone back to Russia so he could be as far from me as possible? Or, God forbid, he was taking advantage of his newly single status and fucking the first beautiful woman he could pick up at a bar.

The image of him sleeping with a beautiful, lanky blonde girl haunted me long after midnight. She was probably so thin that her stomach never bloated, and yet somehow she had large breasts and full, lean hips with a gap between them.

Miserable and wracked with jealousy, I ran my fingers over my body and counted every imperfection and held it against myself.

Morning came and I spent the day listless, wandering the edges of the marsh. A trawler moved past me in the distance twice, but other than that there was silence.

I wanted to run down the road to Magnolia’s house, to tell her everything, but I was embarrassed by the part I’d played. Looking back, I regretted my drunken choice to send the image to Lucien more than I’d ever regretted anything before. I should have at least given him a chance to rethink what he was doing. Instead, I’d lashed out and tried to hurt him the way he’d hurt me. And I hated the thought of having to admit that to Magnolia.

So, with the exception of the guards, I isolated myself. Days passed, blurring into a week. And then into two weeks. Brenda came and went a few times a week to bring the groceries. Viktor must have talked to her because she didn’t ask me what had happened. She just made small talk as she stocked the fridge, cleaned the house, and made dinner. But I could tell she was annoyed with me and that only made me feel worse.

The same trawler passed through the marsh in the distance at least once a day. I wandered if perhaps we had gotten a new neighbor who used the water as a way to get into town for work and shopping. There was so little to do that I found myself waiting for the trawler to pass by so I could wave. The figure, smaller than a pin from where I sat, never waved back.

It was almost two weeks later when Magnolia appeared at my door. I heard the knocking around noon and I padded downstairs and cracked the door. My hair was a mess, piled on my head, and I wore an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of Viktor’s boxers.

Magnolia looked perfect in a lemon print romper and pink espadrilles. There was a basket under her arm and a bouquet of tulip buds in her hand. I attempted to smile, but my mouth trembled, dissolving into a miserable pout. Her brows drew together and her lips parted in surprise.

“What the hell?” she breathed.

I scratched my head, trying to brush back the stray hairs. “Hey, sorry, I’m sick.” I coughed into my hand to prove my point.

“Where’s Viktor?” Magnolia pushed the door ajar and stepped inside.

I followed her into the kitchen and watched her set down a soup pot and a jug of sweet tea. She fixed her gaze on me, pressing me to answer her question.

“Um…he’s not here,” I said.

“Is he away for work?”

A hard lump rose in my throat and I shook my head. Magnolia was at my side in a moment, her arms encircling me as she pulled me against her body. It felt so good to have her hug me that I almost started sobbing. But I managed to keep the tears back. Except for one that spilled down my cheek and made a wet spot on her shoulder.

“What happened, honey,” she said softly.

I pulled back, taking a deep breath. “Viktor left.”

Her brows rose. “He left…left?”

I nodded, running my hand under my nose. Embarrassment rose in me and I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling incredibly foolish for breaking down in front of her.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

She pressed her lips together. “Honey, sit down. I’m making you some tea while you tell me what happened. And don’t lie to me, I can always tell.”

I sat down on the stool, resting my elbows on the countertop. Magnolia made a cup of herbal tea and took a dozen tea cookies from her basket and arranged them on a plate in front of me. Then she poured us both a shot of whiskey and sat down opposite me. I offered her a watery smile.

“Alright,” she said. “Talk to me.”

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