NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62: Chapter 61
Chapter 61: Awkward Silence
Arthur hadn't forgotten about his looks. He left Jamie in Blake's care and hurried to the bathhouse to clean himself up, changing into a fresh set of clothes. Then, while it wasn't too late, Arthur took Jamie with him and returned to the house Mary was renting.
Arthur rapped on the door. This time, he didn't have to wait long. Mary opened the door almost immediately.
For some reason, Mary's eyes seemed to lock onto Arthur first, as if she hadn't noticed anyone else. It took her a few seconds before she finally registered Jamie standing beside him. Her hands flew to her mouth, and her voice trembled with emotion as she cried out:
"Jamie! Oh, Jamie!" Jamie and Mary embraced tightly, their reunion filled with a mix of relief and lingering tension.
"Come home with me, Jamie. Please, stop being stubborn… Father has been so heartbroken lately…"
At the mention of their father, Jamie's face hardened. He pushed Mary away, his voice sharp with anger.
"Don't lie to me! Even if I died right in front of him, he wouldn't care…"
Mary was left speechless, her eyes wide with shock and sadness as she stared at Jamie.
"But… I'll go home with you. Don't look at me like that. I'm doing this for you."
Mary's eyes welled up with tears, her voice soft and trembling. "My boy… my sweet boy…"
Arthur stood silently to the side, watching the scene unfold. It seemed there was no place for him in this moment. He quietly stepped away, turning his back to light a cigarette. The match struck easily against the doorframe, a small convenience he appreciated.
He smoked half the cigarette in silence, the smoke curling into the cool evening air. By then, Mary had finally noticed Arthur standing off to the side. She approached him slowly, her expression earnest.
"Thank you, Arthur."
"Just 'thank you'?" Arthur's reply came out sharper than he intended. He felt a pang of frustration. Their relationship shouldn't be reduced to mere formalities.
Truthfully, Arthur wasn't great at navigating emotional conversations. He knew he needed to take the initiative, but he wished for more than just a simple "thank you." He wanted to hear something like, "Arthur, you've worked so hard," or even just a heartfelt, "Oh, Arthur."
He wanted Mary to see the changes in him, and he wanted to change her perception of him too.
Arthur knew Mary still had feelings for him, but he also understood the many reasons why she felt she couldn't—or shouldn't—love him.
He understood all of this in theory, but putting it into practice? That was another story.
"Do you… want me to pay you?" Mary stammered, her voice uncertain. She didn't think Arthur meant it that way, but she couldn't be sure. It had been so long since they'd last seen each other, and she wasn't certain if he was still the man she remembered.
Arthur felt as though a knife had been plunged into his chest. His body went cold. Was she really talking about money? He didn't know why, but he felt a strange sense of hurt—something he hadn't felt in years. Still, he managed to reply:
"No, that's not… what I meant."
An awkward silence fell between them. Fortunately, there was someone nearby who understood the situation better than they did. Jamie, who had been watching the exchange with growing impatience, smacked his forehead and stepped forward.
"Is this what you meant when you said you two had made up?"
"No, I didn't—don't put words in my mouth," Arthur protested, his face flushing with embarrassment.
Mary couldn't help but laugh. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at Arthur, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"I just feel like I'm ready to start over, but I don't know how you feel about it."
Mary's smile softened, and she looked at Arthur with a warmth that made his heart skip a beat.
"Oh, Arthur, seeing you again has been such a surprise. You've changed so much. The most unexpected thing is that you've become… quite endearing."
Arthur wasn't entirely sure if that was a compliment, but he took it as one. He adjusted his hat and grinned sheepishly.
"Alright, alright, enough of this. I'm still here, you know! So, where am I supposed to sleep tonight?" Jamie interjected, successfully breaking the moment.
Arthur clenched his fist, half-tempted to knock Jamie out and let him sleep on the floor.
"Oh, I didn't expect Jamie to come back today. I only booked the last available room…" Mary said, her voice tinged with regret.
Arthur saw an opportunity and seized it.
"Why don't you both come stay at my hotel? I have rooms available, and I can show you around town for a few days."
In truth, Arthur wasn't entirely sure if there were any vacancies. But he was determined to make sure there would be two empty rooms by the time Mary stepped foot in the hotel.
"Your hotel? Arthur, does this mean you're no longer running with your old gang?" Mary's voice was filled with hope, though she tried to hide it.
Arthur nodded, though he missed the look of anticipation in Mary's eyes.
"Yeah, I've got a small business in Valentine now. As for my old friends… well, you've seen them around town. I'm trying to change, Mary, but it's going to take time."
The hope in Mary's eyes dimmed slightly, but it didn't disappear entirely. She had always known that the Arthur she remembered would never easily leave his old life behind. So why had she even asked?
Perhaps it was because she had once believed Arthur would never change, not even for her. But now, she saw a glimmer of possibility. Arthur was changing, and that gave her hope.
After a moment of thought, Mary finally nodded.
"Alright, Arthur. Take Jamie with you for now. I need to speak with Mrs. Chadwick—it's too late now, she's already asleep. Tomorrow, after I settle the rent, could you come back for me?"
Arthur's heart soared. Was this a sign that Mary might stay in town a little longer after finding Jamie? Though she hadn't explicitly agreed to stay, Arthur saw the possibility, and it filled him with quiet joy.
"Of course. Come on, Jamie. You need a bath—you reek," Arthur said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Mary stood at the door, watching as Arthur and Jamie disappeared into the night. She lingered there long after they were out of sight, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.
Originally, her plan had been simple: find Jamie and take him home. But now, after reuniting with Arthur and seeing the changes in him, her heart was in turmoil. The promises Arthur had made, the memories of their happier times—all of it weighed heavily on her mind.
And so, Mary had decided to give Arthur a chance. She would stay in Valentine a little longer. This was an opportunity—not just for Arthur, but for herself as well.
***
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