[A sense of normalcy finally settles over the Aubel Estate after the holidays. After her last sleepwalking incident, Devon had a hopeful premonition that it would not happen again for a long time. There were some unsettling occurrences such as the number of dead crows outside in the snow and everyone could only assume that it was from the cold temperatures (and for a split second, Devon had a flash, something felt sickening as if her throat was being constricted... But then it was gone just as quickly). Everything was peaceful and Devon goes to work such as preparing for wedding plans (her mother insisted to start ahead of time) and to research into getting her driver's license in England and the processes involved.
There's only one problem though.
Devon started out the week well enough after doing some of her required reading for weddings and driving in England. Her studio was emptied of most of her paintings (her mother and cousin Helena, an art teacher, offered to take them home and put them in art auctions for charity) and so Devon immediately starts to plan on making new ones. That worked out fine while James is away for work.
For two days.
There were five completed paintings in two days. And she still had an itch. She decided to mold some shapes with clay next and glaze them accordingly. That ought to fix her boredom.
In another two days, she made a set of 10 small cups, completely finished, glazed with a soft green color, and one of the staff loved them so much, they asked to have the set. Devon parted with the cups, but the restlessness remained. Then she tried collage, sewing, some crocheting, tinier paintings on small square canvases, she baked three trays of cookies, and then peeled a whole bag of potatoes in the kitchen because she convinced the chef to let her sit and do the task.
Her energy burst remained strong and ongoing and it was driving Devon crazy. Was she finally suffering cabin fever, she wonders? It wasn't as if the estate felt suffocating. It was winter outside and it's not like she was all that eager to go into the cold. She considered texting Elle Grayson to see if they could set up a day where they could go out, but a) that didn't feel appropriate just yet and b) she was considering Elle's feelings and decided she too would not like to bear the winter chill. Was she...?
Oh, no. She doesn't want to think of the possibility that she was frustrated.
... But she doesn't want to be dishonest to herself out of a sense of useless pride. She and her fiance had reached an understanding of sorts didn't they? Time had worked its magic and one way or another, Devon is the closest to him than any man she's ever had a brief relationship with. She wanted to treasure that in her own way. After getting shooed away from the kitchen, Devon sat in her bedroom, scrolling through her tablet. And during that time she thinks. She really thinks and forces honesty from herself. What did she want? What would she be willing to do next? HOW would she go about it? And out of the million ideas and possibilities and considerations of the results and repercussions, a single silk thread, an inkling slips into Devon's mind, staying there to unravel itself. She glances at her bathroom, idly thinking that the tub was quite big and she's never used it before. That it would be nice to relax in there. That maybe...
* * *
A single line of text appears to James Aubel while he's away.]
Ɩιкє α яινєя fƖσωѕ
There's only one problem though.
Devon started out the week well enough after doing some of her required reading for weddings and driving in England. Her studio was emptied of most of her paintings (her mother and cousin Helena, an art teacher, offered to take them home and put them in art auctions for charity) and so Devon immediately starts to plan on making new ones. That worked out fine while James is away for work.
For two days.
There were five completed paintings in two days. And she still had an itch. She decided to mold some shapes with clay next and glaze them accordingly. That ought to fix her boredom.
In another two days, she made a set of 10 small cups, completely finished, glazed with a soft green color, and one of the staff loved them so much, they asked to have the set. Devon parted with the cups, but the restlessness remained. Then she tried collage, sewing, some crocheting, tinier paintings on small square canvases, she baked three trays of cookies, and then peeled a whole bag of potatoes in the kitchen because she convinced the chef to let her sit and do the task.
Her energy burst remained strong and ongoing and it was driving Devon crazy. Was she finally suffering cabin fever, she wonders? It wasn't as if the estate felt suffocating. It was winter outside and it's not like she was all that eager to go into the cold. She considered texting Elle Grayson to see if they could set up a day where they could go out, but a) that didn't feel appropriate just yet and b) she was considering Elle's feelings and decided she too would not like to bear the winter chill. Was she...?
Oh, no. She doesn't want to think of the possibility that she was frustrated.
... But she doesn't want to be dishonest to herself out of a sense of useless pride. She and her fiance had reached an understanding of sorts didn't they? Time had worked its magic and one way or another, Devon is the closest to him than any man she's ever had a brief relationship with. She wanted to treasure that in her own way. After getting shooed away from the kitchen, Devon sat in her bedroom, scrolling through her tablet. And during that time she thinks. She really thinks and forces honesty from herself. What did she want? What would she be willing to do next? HOW would she go about it? And out of the million ideas and possibilities and considerations of the results and repercussions, a single silk thread, an inkling slips into Devon's mind, staying there to unravel itself. She glances at her bathroom, idly thinking that the tub was quite big and she's never used it before. That it would be nice to relax in there. That maybe...
A single line of text appears to James Aubel while he's away.]
wanna take a bath together