The Edge of Dreams(26)
“Daniel Sullivan!” I stood up, glaring at him. “If you think I am going to begin my new life in my new house with the castoffs from your mother’s attic, you can think again.”
“Only until we have time to make proper choices, and to budget what we can afford, Molly. And you know my mother has very good taste.”
“Oh, I see.” I was pacing now, oblivious to the twinges of pain in my side. “You come in here, announcing that you’ve selected beds at Sloane’s. You choose all the furniture for our house, without consulting me, but you begrudge me the selection of the sheets for my own bed?“
He took a step back, surprised by this outburst. “Whoa there.” He held up his hand. “I tried to re-create our house exactly as it was. I thought you’d be pleased. I wanted to surprise you.”
A small voice in my head whispered that he had done a nice thing for me, but I couldn’t let go of the anger that surged up whenever I felt powerless. “Maybe I didn’t want our house exactly as it was,” I said. “Some of that furniture was yours. Your choice, your taste. Well, I’ve been through a lot this year, Daniel, through no fault of my own. You should want to make it up to me.”
“Some people would give their eye teeth to spend a summer in Paris,” Daniel said. “I don’t think we can consider a sea voyage and a summer in Europe a hardship.”
“Yes, a summer in Paris is a wonderful thing, but not when I had to go through—” I stopped short, remembering once again that I had never told Daniel the true details of what had happened to me in Paris, not wanting to upset him at such a difficult time.
“Had to go through what?”
“Worrying about you,” I said quickly. “Trying to recover from losing my home, nearly being killed, nearly losing my child, and not knowing if you were dead or alive. Not knowing if the gang would seek me out in Europe. It was hardly a carefree time for me, Daniel.”
“I see.” He nodded. “Of course you have been through a lot this year. Which was why I wanted to make it up to you. I tried to bring back your house as you remembered it. I worked hard at it, Molly, traveling all over the city in my spare time, having friends keep their eyes open for various items of furniture. And I think I did a pretty darned good job too.”
He was yelling now too. We were facing each other like two dogs meeting unexpectedly, fur bristling. That small voice was louder now, telling me not to go on with this.
“You did, Daniel. I’m sorry.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “But I don’t want to feel that you’ve taken over everything. I’m trapped here with painful ribs. You’ve invited your mother without consulting me. And now you tell me she’s going to be bringing her sheets and quilts with her and you don’t want me shopping for my own. It’s no wonder I’m upset.”
Daniel shook his head. “I’ll never understand women,” he said. “When I think I’m taking care of you and protecting you, you explode.”
“Then let me explain one thing about women that you should know by now.” I folded my arms as I faced him. “If you want to please your wife, do not tell her you are letting her mother-in-law furnish her house because she has good taste.”
I saw a smile twitch at his lips. “I didn’t say that.”
“No, but you implied it. How do you think I feel if I have no say over my own life?”
“Point taken,” he said. “But truly it was nothing to get worked up about. I did say it was only until we could make a proper selection. No sense in rushing into things.”
“There’s also no harm in seeing what Wanamaker’s has to offer,” I said. “I don’t have to buy any of the things they bring.”
“I suppose not,” he admitted grudgingly. “I’m sorry. I should not have reacted so strongly. After what happened to you yesterday, I wanted to make sure you were safely settled in your own home as soon as possible. And you will need help, won’t you? You’re not up to taking care of a house and Liam on your own—which is why I invited my mother.”
“Yes, I’ll need help,” I agreed. “But I’m choosing my own bed linen, Daniel Sullivan.”
He laughed and took me in his arms. “I’m glad your fiery nature is back, my darling. You’ve been so subdued since you came back from France. I’ve missed my old Molly.”
And he kissed me, gently at first and then with increasing passion.
“No more, Daniel,” I warned. “You have to handle me carefully. Remember I’m injured.”