Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

I stepped out of the room the moment I saw Claudia tugging at Nicholas's clothes. Watching any longer would have been inappropriate.

It was late, and everything around was quiet. I gently closed the door behind me, not wanting to disturb them.

I hadn't noticed when Beth arrived, but as I looked up, I saw her limping toward me.

"Mrs. Hawk, I'm so sorry for being late. Why didn't you go inside and wait?"

Her voice was soft, but when she saw me, she grew emotional. Her voice was choking up as she continued, "Did you tell Mr. Hawk you were here? He would be so happy to know."

I smiled faintly and calmly took what I needed from her hands. "Don't call me Mrs. Hawk anymore. Just call me Ms. Jones like Nicholas does."

I handed her the ointment I had bought for Nicholas. "I'm leaving."

"But..." Beth raised her hand slightly to stop me.

Noticing her gaze fixed eagerly on the doorknob, I hesitated for a second before saying, "Nicholas has drunk too much..."

It shouldn't be considered too much, or he wouldn't have the energy for what he was doing.

added, "But someone

was far too calm.

someone be taking care of him? Ms. Jones, are you sure? Let me go in

you still care about the past, maybe we could just take another

the past. It was because I cared too much about the past that I had come here in the first place! Suppressing my emotions, I said,

deal, just some indescribable emotion stirring inside me. But it didn't matter. I would feel better

"Mrs. Hawk..."

look back. I got into my car, tossed the files onto the passenger seat, and drove off

Beth's expression slowly turned

and placed it in her bag. She then pressed her finger on the door lock

of the door unlocking echoed clearly in

blankly at the

in the guest room bed, he felt inexplicably dejected.

another dream. If not for

hard and waking

turned over, he would've already kissed me all

to the