Chapter 51
TERESA’S P.O.V.
The next morning started off like any other, but there was a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t shake. As soon as I opened my eyes, I sensed something was… off. And then, as I got out of bed, it hit me: everything felt tighter. My pajamas clung a little too snugly, and as I shuffled around my small room, my feet complained loudly as they touched the floor.
I took a deep breath and willed myself to get dressed. Pulling on my jeans felt like wrestling with The Rock, and I winced as I tried to fasten the button. “It’s just the wash,” I muttered to myself, blaming the laundry instead of the rapidly growing baby bump that had started to make itself painfully known. Then I slipped into my shoes, and—ouch! The leather pinched at my toes like it had shrunk overnight.
“Fantastic,” I mumbled, hobbling around like a penguin with sore feet. Every step felt like a battle against my own shoes. “It’s fine, Teresa. You can manage,” I reassured myself, all while my toes were screaming at me to please, for the love of all things holy, find something roomier. I knew I needed new clothes and shoes, but the idea of spending what little I had left was… unsettling.
When I finally made it to the diner that evening, I was more than ready to collapse into a booth and let my feet recover. But as luck would have it, Mary, Susanne, and Tom waltzed in just as I was about to sit. They looked far too perky for my liking—full of energy, laughs, and, worst of all, curiosity. I barely had time to fake a smile before Mrs. Flora, my evening boss, seemed to sense my fatigue, especially after a long day helping Mr. Ben at the bookstore, and let me take a small break to sit with my ’friends’. She even reminded me to rest more because of the pregnancy, her gentle way of watching over me.
As I settled into the booth, I noticed Mary’s eyes practically gleaming with mischief. She leaned in with a grin that spelled trouble. “So, Teresa she whispered, “how close are you with Adrian Daegon?” She said his name like it was wrapped in scandal, and I could see Tom struggling to hold back a laugh as he eagerly leaned in.
I felt my face heat up instantly. “Adrian?” I tried to laugh it off, though it came out a bit strangled. “He’s just… a friendly neighbor. You know, like he is with everyone p>
Susanne’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh really? Because I heard he was carrying your basket at the market the other day.” She leaned forward, her voice taking on a conspiratorial whisper, like she was sharing top-secret intel. “And I also heard he followed you to the hospital. What’s that about, hmm?” She looked at me like she was begging me to clear up that my relationship with Adrian was really nothing. Her eyes and body language were practically chanting, Please say no, please say no.
I stiffened, frantically searching for a way out of this. “It’s nothing, honestly!” I insisted, though my cheeks were undoubtedly betraying me.
Mary exchanged a sly look with Tom, who looked utterly lost, bless his heart. He furrowed his brows, trying to catch up with whatever scheme Mary and Susanne were cooking up. Meanwhile, Susanne’s tense shoulders dropped, and she let out a huge sigh of relief, like she’d been holding her breath all day. Her face broke into a grin as she looked down at her hands. “Good to know,” she muttered, as if mentally checking me off some list.
“Oh, Teresa Mary sighed, shaking her head as if I were a clueless romantic heroine in some novel. “Just being friendly, huh p>
They all laughed, and even I couldn’t help but chuckle.
But that’s when it hit me—a pang of guilt that settled uncomfortably in my stomach. Susanne, reserved and wise Susanne, really did liked Adrian. When she mentioned it before, I didn’t really think it was that serious. Suddenly, I felt like… like I was stealing something that didn’t belong to me. I told myself right then and there that I had to keep Adrian at a distance. I couldn’t be the cause of any whispers or misunderstandings in this small town where I so desperately wanted peace.
By the time I finally made it home that evening, I was more than ready to collapse into bed. I was slipping into the comfort of my own space, ready to lose myself in sleep… when there was a knock at the door.
Adrian.
His tall figure stood in the doorway, charming and ever-cool. His long dark hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and he wore a casual shirt with jeans, completed by a pair of nice leather boots. His purple eyes twinkled with an air of mystery that always made him seem like he was from another era.
“I came to take you out for that evening tour I promised,” he announced with a relaxed smile, as if we had agreed on it earlier.
I stammered, “Oh… Adrian, I… I’m really tired, actually. Maybe another time p>
His smile didn’t waver, and he simply shook his head, his eyes kind and yet stubborn. “Come now, Teresa. Sometimes, staying awake and letting your mind wander is the best way to truly rest. Trust me—one night will be worth it p>
Before I could find another excuse, he gently took my hand, locking up the door and guiding me toward his truck. I huffed a little but found myself softening as I settled into the seat, the air of his calm reassurance somehow seeping into me.
After a quiet drive, he stopped the car and opened the door with a dramatic, sweeping motion. “Your chariot awaits, my lady,” he teased, holding out his hand with a flourish. I rolled my eyes, but a laugh escaped before I could stop it.
He led me into a hidden garden that felt untouched by time. The soft glow from the town’s distant lights threw an enchanting glow over everything, creating shadows that danced across the lush greenery. Tiny flowers, whose names I didn’t know, opened under the moon’s gentle beam, and in that quiet, magical space, the town felt a million miles away.
“This place he began, his voice warm and rich with nostalgia, “was once where travelers would rest, a sort of refuge for wanderers who’d lost their way. Many centuries ago, the townspeople used to leave offerings here, they believed this place could heal them.” He laughed softly. “A bit dramatic, don’t you think? But there are times I wished there was a bit of truth in the legend p>
I listened to Adrian talk about this place with such affection, as if every brick and blade of grass held a secret only he knew. His voice was smooth, almost musical, weaving a picture so vivid I could practically smell the candle wax and hear the hooves of weary travelers arriving centuries ago. I could feel myself getting wrapped up in the fantasy of it all, letting my imagination run wild. The guy talked like he was reminiscing about his own good old days in a century-long-gone era.
So, I had to ask, teasingly, “You talk like you were actually here to witness all of that centuries ago p>
Adrian glanced at me, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Actually, I was,” he said, leaning in with an intensity that was part playfulness, part mystery. “I’ve been here for centuries. I’m a Vampire, Teresa. The very first one, in fact p>
For a second, I just blinked at him, then snorted so hard I nearly choked. “Oh, sure. A vampire,” I said, clutching my sides. “Next, you’ll tell me you invented the wheel or trained the dinosaurs p>
He chuckled, his laughter joining mine in the quiet night air. “Believe what you want,” he said with an exaggeratedly mysterious tone, which only made me laugh harder.
“Honestly, Adrian, you’ve got the most
overactive imagination I’ve ever met!” I teased, wiping a tear from my eye. “Are you sure you don’t moonlight as a screenwriter or something p>
He shook his head, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know, everything I said was absolutely true!” But he was grinning, and that only made it more absurd.
Eventually, our laughter faded, and we lay back on the soft grass, watching the stars. For a moment, neither of us spoke, just enjoying the night sky above us, the twinkling lights distant and eternal, like Adrian’s crazy tale.
Despite the beauty around us and Adrian’s charm, there was something bothering me seriously and I couldn’t keep ignoring the gnawing discomfort anymore. Knowing how the townspeople were talking about us. I didn’t want more misunderstandings, especially not with Susanne. Gathering my courage, I took a breath and looked over at Adrian.
“Adrian I began, my voice a little shaky. He turned to look at me, a gentle smile already on his lips. He lay there, one arm tucked under his head like a pillow, looking as relaxed as ever. But there was this twinge of guilt gnawing at me; I felt awful for what I was about to say. Still, it had to be said.
“People are beginning to talk… about us. And it’s making me… uncomfortable p>
For a moment, something shifted in his expression. A shadow flickered across his face, just a subtle shift, but enough to show a depth of hurt he usually hid so well. He glanced away, his jaw tightening as if fighting some unseen battle with himself. The sadness in his eyes was like a ghost—a glimpse of something ancient and weary, lingering just beneath the surface. But he softened quickly, turning back to me with that same, familiar warmth, his gaze steady and calm.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. There was a small, sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, a smile that seemed almost… fragile. “It was never my intention. I just… I enjoyed spending time with you, Teresa p>
Those words hit harder than I wanted them to. His voice held a kind of loneliness, something I hadn’t noticed before, like he was used to this—being close to people, then having to let go. My heart squeezed painfully, but I forced myself to remember why I needed to create this distance. Adrian was kind, charming, everything someone like me could easily fall for. But I couldn’t let that happen again. Not after Lucian.
We lingered in the garden a while longer, talking about little things, laughing about stories from our pasts. His company was so easy, so soothing, but as he walked me to my door that night and gave a final, soft “Good night,” I forced myself to remember why I needed space.
Watching him drive off, a wave of sadness washed over me. I didn’t want to hurt him, and I didn’t want to hurt Susanne. Had I made the right choice?
Just then, Lucian’s face flashed in my mind—Lucian, who’d once charmed me only to turn cold, who’d once swept into my life like he belonged there, only to abandon me. I told myself Adrian would be no different. It was safer this way, safer not to trust anyone too much, safer to protect myself and my babies from getting hurt.
I glanced up at the quiet sky and whispered to myself, “Yes. This is for the best p>