Outside the door, I do more breathing exercises, needing to calm down before I’m back with my sunshine. She’s never seen me angry, and she’s not going to now.
Once I’m back to the calm, complacent Roman she loves, I find her, give her a kiss, and we leave holding hands.
Like a normal couple.
Like a simple man who loves his fiancée.
Like the man she thinks her fiancé is.
And I’ll be damned if she ever learns the truth.
Chapter 60
Cecilia
Since the engagement, life has been perfect. Roman and I have been living in perfect harmony. I start off each day with yoga in front of the wall of windows, enjoying the beautiful view. Then we have breakfast together. Mamá sent me tea leaves she grew, so I drink my tea while Roman makes his tinto. Abuela taught him how to make it before we left.
Afterwards, I head to work, and he does the same. He’s finished the repairs on my apartment, but we’ve made no mention of me moving back. It’s not customary for us to live together out of wedlock, but I can’t bring myself to care.
When I get off work, he meets me outside the clinic and walks me to either the yoga studio or home. Most nights we cook together. Or, well, I cook, and he plays music and helps with the mundane things like shredding and stirring. He’s gotten skilled enough to make rice on his own now.
We fall asleep in each other’s arms every night. And wake up the same way every morning.
It’s more than I ever thought I could have. I didn’t realize how much I craved this love, until now. Until I have it. And I know nothing could ever take it away from me.
Chapter 61
Cecilia
I’m eating some leftover lasagna from last night during my lunch break in the empty break room. Since I’m the last one to leave the clinic today, I’m the only one eating lunch so late.
It’s quite peaceful.
I have my earbuds in, and I’m listening to a podcast about meditation and inner peace. I’m trying to find material for the next yoga session I teach. I can’t help but smile as I realize everything is perfect in my life. I have found true inner peace. And one man can be credited for a lot of it.
I’m so transfixed in my podcast that I don’t hear the door open. I don’t realize I’m not alone until two hands land on my shoulders and start rubbing them roughly.
I instinctively tense and glance up despite already knowing who it is.
Dr. Sanders leans over me with a grin that makes me uneasy.
“Cecilia, at the end of your shift, meet me in my office.” That smile makes me nauseous. He winks then leaves as though nothing happened.
I push away the rest of the lasagna, my appetite gone.
For some odd reason, I feel like I should let Roman know what’s going on. That I’m feeling uncomfortable. Then I roll my eyes at the ridiculous thought. What could he even do?
Dr. Sanders has been almost hostile to me since I appeared with my engagement ring. He makes inappropriate and derogatory comments. It’s making it impossible to have a good day at work. But I save the day with Roman every evening.
***
The rest of the day goes by too quickly, and before I know it, the office is cleared except Dr. Sanders and me.
I slowly make my way to his office. There’s a ringing in my ears. It’s not the first time I’ve had a doctor ask me to stay late, but it feels different this time. I can’t explain where the paranoia is coming from. Maybe Gracie rubbed off on me more than I realized.
I open the door and he’s smiling at me.
“Sit, Cecilia. We have some things to discuss,” he says, pointing at the chair next to him.
