Daniel drove through the night with the window slightly open, hoping the cold air would numb the ache in his chest. But nothing helped. Every mile between him and Mary made the pain sharper, the confusion louder.
Ever since he returned home, there hadn't been a single day, Mary didn't haunt his thoughts. Her soft voice, the way she looked away when he got too close, the sadness that flickered behind her eyes... and the guilt she tried to hide but couldn't.
He couldn't shake the image of Mary's face when he approached her earlier. She sudden fear in her eyes, the way she stepped back like he was dangerous. The trembling in her voice when she avoided his questions.
Something was wrong
And Mary was runing from him harder everyday.
He parked outside Patrick's apartment and climbed the stairs two at time. Before he could knock . Patrick opened the door with eyebrow raised.
" you look like someone stor your soul," Patrick said, stepping aside.
Daniel entered and sat heavily on the couch. He didn't speak at first. He didn't trust his voice.
Patrick sat across from him
" is this about Mary again?"
" what happen this time?"
Daniel rubbed his face .
" she won't let talk to her , she won't even look at me properly. Everytime I get close, she pulls away like she's afraid. I don't know why?"
Patrick studied him for a long moment.
" okay. Give me everything. What exactly happened today."
Daniel look up eyes tired.
" I asked her why she was avoiding me .she said she is ' busy' , she said she's ' fine', but she couldn't even stand still . She looked like she was about to cry, Pat"
Patrick nodded slowly. " and what do you think she's hiding from you?"
Daniel swallowed hard." I honestly don't know. But it feels big, heavy like something she believes will destroy everything."
Patrick leaned back, watching with calms t Daniel had always admired.
"Daniel...you need to remember something about Mary."
Daniel frowned." What "
" Mary isn't like the girls your age she's grown woman. She lived a whole life before you even turn twenty. And she has a daughter. That kind of woman doesn't act on feelings easily. "
Daniel sniffed.
"I know she's older, Pat but doesn't change how I feel ."
Patrick sighed.
"But changes how she feels. She probably sees you as someone with a future she shouldn't interfere with. To her , your still your mother's son. The boy she watched grows up while she worked in your home."
That truth hit Daniel harder than expected.
Patrick continue gently.
" she probably respects you too much to let you ruin your life because of her."
Daniel shook his head " I m not ruining anything I know what I want ."
" yeah" Patrick said softly," buy she doesn't know that. She's scared of your age difference, your future, your reputation.....and your mother."
Daniel swallowed, his throat tight.
" but my mom likes her."
" she likes her as maid," Patrick corrected.
" not as woman her son wants."
The room felt silent.
Daniel leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
" I just wish Mary would trust me. I wish Shae didn't see me as kid."
Patrick gave a small sad smile.
" that's the thing...older woman push harder
Because they care. If she didn't care, she'd treated you however she wanted, but she's protecting you."
Daniel snapped up.
" you think she cares about me?"
Patrick raised an eyebrow. " Daniel, a woman who doesn't care wouldn't be this scare of hurting you."
Daniel froze,hope lit in his chest for the first time in days.
Patrick continue
"Mary is not cold. She afraid, and sometimes fear looks like rejection."
Daniel looked down at his hands." But why? Why now? Why suddenly?"
Patrick didn't respond right away. Instead, he asked the dangerous question.
" do you think it has something to do with that night?"
The night Daniel try so hard to forget and yet replayed in his mind constantly. His welcome home party. The alcohol, the sudden closeness. Mary trying to help him... and everything going wrong.
Patrick sighed
" bro ... you know what happened between you two that night, and She's scared of the consequences. "
Patrick voice lowered
" she's a maid , you're her employer's son. She older and she has a child. And if anything happened between you two...and your mother finds about it . She will lose everything . Her job, her safety, her daughter's care... like everything. "
Daniel breath hitched
" Mary would rather break herself," Patrick said," than let your life get ruined because of her."
Daniel's eyes burned
" that's not her decision to make."
" but she thinks it i," Patrick replied softly.
A long silence stretched.
Finally Patrick leaned forward.
" Daniel... you love her anyone can see that. But Mary she not sure she's allowed to love you back,she's not sure she's allowed to want you.
Her whole life has taught her to stay in her place. "
Daniel clenched his jaw.
" I don't want her to stay in her place. I want her with me by my side."
" then you need to show her you're not a boy who needs protection, " Patrick said " show her you're a man she can trust."
Daniel stood slowly, the fire in him returning
"And if she hiding something bigger than all this?"
Patrick met his eyes.
" you stay , you fight. Because loving a woman like Mary means you're choosing a harder path... but the real one."
Daniel nodded, determination setting in his chest like steel.
" I'm not giving up on her," he whispered " not now not ever. "
Patrick smiled faintly
" then go to her. But be gentle. She carrying more than you think."
Whatever Mary was hiding....
Whatever she feared....
He wasn't going to walk away.
Not from her.
Daniel stay a Patrick apartment the whole night drinking while planning what he will do when he meets Mary the next day.