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Later that same day
The clock struck nine as Josie walked into the sitting room.
"They're asleep, finally" she said with a sigh.
But Roger did not hear. He leaned back in the crook of the chaise and stared out to the front garden, deep in thought. His head was swirling with fear and doubt, and he did not notice when Josie sat beside him.
"Roger..." she muttered, putting a hand on his knee, "Are you alright?"
He shuddered and looked to her, "Oh, sorry, what did you say?"
Her bright eyes searched his, "You were silent all through dinner," she said slowly, "You hardly touched your food and you didn't say good night to the children."
He turned away, unable to look her in the eye.
"I'm worried about you, Roger," she admitted uncertainly, "Has something happened?"
He shook his head, "Of course not," he wrapped an arm around her and held her close to him, "I've just had a lot on my mind. Forgive me."
She sighed, then rested her head on his shoulder, "You can tell me anything," she glanced up at him, "You know that, right?"
He nodded but remained silent. As she nestled closer to him, he felt shame crawl into the back of his heart. Here was Josie: contented, happy, and blissfully unaware that Florian Dupont was only a few city blocks away.
"Josie..." Roger began, holding her tightly, "I love you."
She smiled, "I know you do - "
"No, you don't understand," he interrupted sharply, turning to face her, "I have always loved you, in my own way, but never the way you deserved to be loved. I was blinded by my folly and pride, for so many years. And though I have changed, I want you to know that I...that is, I know it will never truly be possible but..." Josie gazed at him in confusion and wonder as he brought a hand to her cheek, "I want to be worthy of you."
"Roger - "
He took her hand, his guiltiness fading, "Whatever pain we have experienced in the past is over, I promise you that. No matter what happens, I swear I will do anything to make you happy."
Josie tilted her head, her eyes full of sympathy and love, and she started to speak, but she was interrupted by a sound which sent chills through Roger's body.
The friendly knocking at the front door echoed through the house and brought a puzzled grin to Josie's face, but it made Roger's blood turn cold with fear.
"I'll get it," Josie murmured as she began to leave the room, but Roger stood and grabbed her arm.
"Don't!" he practically begged, "Please..." his tight hold on her arm loosened as she stared at him in shock, "Please, stay here."
She opened her mouth to speak, but Roger's pleading eyes silenced her. She sat back on the chaise as he continued into the foyer.
Roger could see a familiar figure through the door's window and his heart stopped. This was the moment he'd dreaded, but he stood tall as he opened the door.
"Oh..." Florian Dupont wrinkled his brow when he saw Roger, "I did not realize you lived here-"
Roger cleared his throat, "Please leave."
Florian shook his head, "Sir, I just wanted to talk to - "
"I beg of you," Roger pleaded, lowering his voice, "Please, you don't understand she - "
"My dear, what is going on?" Josie's voice called from the sitting room and Roger heard her step across into the foyer, "Who is..."
Roger turned just in time to see Josie freeze in the middle of the foyer, her eyes widening as she looked past him.
She blinked once, and then again. She looked to Roger, her eyes resting for a moment on his familiar face, but when she looked once more at the silhouetted figure in the doorway, her face paled.
"Fl...Flor..." she could hardly speak and Roger could tell she was losing her breath.
Roger watched in silent horror as Florian stepped forward into the light.
He gazed at Josie and smiled, "Miss. Mardle?"
Josie's entire body weakened almost immediately. Her knees gave way and she would have completely collapsed if Roger had not caught her just in time.
"Josie? Josie!" Roger cried out as he eased her to the ground, "Josie, wake up! Josie?"
He tried rousing her, but she had completely lost consciousness.
"What can I do?" Florian asked in a panic as he rushed towards them.
Roger glared up at him, but saw the sincere worry in Florian's eyes and relented.
"Here," Roger lifted Josie's back as he gave instructions, "Take her upper-half and help me get her into the sitting room.".
However, Florian quickly brushed him aside and took complete control, tucking one arm beneath Josie's back and the other under her knees. Roger felt a possessive jealousy, but said nothing when the younger, stronger man lifted Josie as though she weighed no more than a feather.
"In here," Roger hurried into the sitting room.
He stood back, anxiously watching as Florian lowered Josie onto the chaise. The young man set her down gently, moving his arm from beneath her legs to adjust the cushion under her head. Florian paused for a moment, staring down at Josie with a look Roger recognized instantly.
Roger held his breath as Florian blinked once, and then again. But the young man shook his head, disregarding whatever thought had passed through his mind, and then stood, moving to the far side of the room as Roger knelt beside the chaise and took Josie's hand.
"Oh my dear Josie..." he whispered while he smoothed a curl of hair out of her face, "Please, forgive me...Please, God, forgive me..."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as Roger felt Florian's eyes on him.
"Thank you," he said quietly, glancing across at Florian.
He shook his head, "There is no need for thanks. I am happy to help."
Roger nodded, "Yes, well, be that as it may, I thank you."
Florian gave him a weak smile.
Roger cleared his throat, "I must care for her here, so you understand if I ask you to show yourself out - "
"Will she...will Josie be alright?" Florian asked, removing his cap awkwardly as he stepped forward.
Roger tried to suppress the fear boiling in his blood, "She will be - if you leave here now."
Florian shook his head in frustration, "No, I have come all this way. I just want the truth about - "
"The truth?" Roger snapped, "The truth is that you're dead!" he stood and forced Florian to stagger back, "You've been dead for five years! She's moved on," Roger's eyes were ablaze with fury as he clutched Florian's collar and shouted tearfully in his face, "She has a new life, a new future, and she doesn't need you anymore!" his heart heaved with guilt and he could hardly breathe, "Why did you have to come here and ruin everything? Why couldn't you just stay dead?"
"W-what are you talking about?" Florian muttered, clearly frightened for his life and confused beyond words, "I do not understand, please, I - "
Roger's shoulders slumped as he let go of Florian, "Ask your friend. He knows more than I do," he looked back towards Josie and lowered his voice, "All I know or care about is her."
Florian's fearful eyes followed Roger's gaze, resting on Josie, "You love her?"
Roger closed his eyes, "More than anything..." he opened them again and glared at Florian, "Now would you please leave."
"But I - "
"The past is dead and buried, Mr. Dupont," Roger stated, walking out of the sitting room, "It's best to keep it that way. For all our sakes."
He pulled the front door open and gestured for Florian to go. But Florian continued to stare at Josie.
"Mr. Dupont..." Roger's voice was terrifyingly quiet, "I beg of you. Leave now."
Florian finally pulled his gaze away and gave an apologetic look to Roger before darting through the front door and out to the street.
Roger slammed the door shut with all his might.
It was some time after Florian left the house before Josie awoke.
Roger was sitting in the armchair, his guilt bearing down on him like an anchor, when her eyes fluttered open.
He quickly knelt to her side and took her hand, "Josie, darling, are you alright? Tell me you are alright..."
Her eyes were glazed over but she sat up.
"He was here...I saw him..." she mumbled, shaking her head in dazed confusion and shock, "It was Florian...he was here..." her desperate words turned into frantic mutterings as her eyes darted about, desperately searching, "Roger, he was here...It was him, I know it was..."
"It was a delivery boy..." he whispered, instantly feeling a pain in his chest as he remembered a similar excuse from years previous.
"But it was him...I..." she closed her eyes, trying to remember, "I saw him...he was right here, I..."
Roger took her face in his hands, "Listen to me, it was a delivery boy..." her eyes opened as he reiterated the lie, "Josie, my dear, it was only a delivery boy..."
Her eyes moistened and she blinked, "It was...wasn't it?" her breathing quickened though she tried to keep calm, "A delivery boy? Oh God..." she held a hand to her mouth as she burst into sobs, "I really thought...I..."
She could hardly speak through her tears and her body shook from crying.
Roger wrapped an arm around her and let her lean into his chest. His heart ached and his tortured soul wanted to speak the truth, but he did not, he could not.
"There, there, now. It is alright. It will all be alright," he said, holding her as though his life depended on it.
Please, God, let it be alright...he prayed.
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