The Price of Forgetting

Chapter 23

Doctor Collins agreed with Matthew and I was more or less ordered to rest in my room for the remainder of the day. I didn't necessarily disagree, but I was irritated anyway. I was glad that Matthew and I had the kind of friendship where we could scream at one another and then cling to one another in the next moment, but I was still pretty aggravated by his protectiveness. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if there could have been some romantic motivation for it, but of course there couldn't be. So in addition to his behavior being kind of obnoxious, it didn't make any sense. Just wanting to sulk a little, I opted to stay mostly in my room the following day too.

Of course, I thought to myself with a sigh when someone knocked on the door after lunch, it was too much to expect to be allowed to wallow in peace.

"Come in," I said a moment before Lily popped into the room.

"Feeling better?" she asked, not giving me time to answer before she added, "I brought reinforcements."

Evie appeared behind her. "Can we join the pity party?" she asked. "I have a whole list of things to whine about."

Unable to help it, I laughed. "Alright, but only if there are refreshments."

Lily grinned and pulled a box of chocolates from behind her back. "Of course!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lily rang for tea and so we sat together on some pillows on the floor, sipping from our cups and eating far too many chocolates.

"...and I mean, Henry is great," Evie said. "He's a lot better than any of the men I used to imagine I'd get stuck with, but it's just so much pressure. And in a few months, I'll be going to visit his home. It's only fair after all the time he's spent here, but... I don't know. I'll mostly be on my own."

"You'll hardly be alone," Lily disagreed. "You'll have an army of guards and servants."

Evie shook her head. "You know that's not the same as having family or friends there. It'll be my first trip without my parents. Which will be strange enough on its own, but everyone will be looking at me as some kind of representative."

"But you'll have Henry, and you love him." There was a tease in Lily's voice that managed to pull Evie from her worries.

"I do," she agreed with a smile. "And that's no small miracle."

We laughed and Evie turned to me. "Okay, that's enough of my complaining," she said. "Your turn."

I'd been enjoying being able to sit and just listen, so I wasn't thrilled with the sudden attention. After a second though, I was glad I had this opportunity. Lily and Evie knew Matthew better than anyone. Maybe they'd be able to figure out his behavior.

"You know how protective Matthew can be," I said, gratified when they both smirked. Apparently they were very familiar.

"Usually I don't mind. Mostly I think it's sweet. He just cares so much, you know? It's hard to be upset about that."

"But sometimes it can be too much," Lily said.

I nodded. "He was getting better about it. Since we've been here especially, he's been trying to give me some space and let me work things out on my own. We talked yesterday. He didn't like that I was going out with Jonas. He said it wasn't that, but he doesn't like him. He even admitted it."

"Of course he doesn't," Evie said with a laugh.

What was that supposed to mean? I looked at her curiously, but before I could ask, Lily said, "so what happened?"

"I told him he needed to trust me, and he said that he did, but then he followed me." I shook my head. "After what happened with Jonas, I'm glad he was there, but it just doesn't make sense for him to be so... so jealous. I mean, he's my cousin. It's not like..." Feeling that frustration swell, I huffed and scowled at the floor for a minute.

Rather than the sympathy I expected from Lily and Evie, they just seemed puzzled.

"What?" Evie asked.

"Why would you think he's your cousin?" Lily said.

It was my turn to be confused. "Because, he is," I said hesitantly. "Isn't he?"

They exchanged a strange look before turning to me again.

"Did someone tell you that?" Evie asked.

I thought for a second and then shook my head. "No, but his parents are my aunt and uncle. My parents are his aunt and uncle. Doesn't that mean we're cousins?" I felt like the world had been tipped on its side. I was beginning to question everything I thought I knew.

"You guys aren't actually related by blood," Lily said. "Your parents have just been really close to Aunt Keira and the rest of the family for a long time, so you call them aunt and uncle, but..." She shrugged. "No relation."

My mouth fell open. That couldn't be right, could it? Lily would know, I suppose, but it just seemed completely wrong. Could we honestly just be friends? If we weren't related but he was still so protective and so dedicated, it meant...what exactly?

Suddenly, I remembered all those times I noticed him watching me in that sweet and tender way that left me wondering whether my perception was all wrong. All those confusing moments that made me long for the possibility of a different kind of relationship with him than that of a cousin and best friend.

"Are you alright?" Evie asked.

I had to blink a few times to focus on her. "I'm..." I had no idea what to say.

"What are you thinking?" Lily asked and I noticed there was a twinkle in her eye.

"I'm just so confused," I admitted. "If Matthew's not my cousin, who is he to me? I mean, I know he said we've always been best friends, but...." But he was so much more than that.

Lily bit her lip and Evie tried not to smile.

"Unfortunately, we can't answer that," Lily said to my surprise. "You'll have to ask Matthew."

"And don't let him avoid the question," Evie added. "Demand that he tell you everything."

Okay, that was even more strange. "Why would he try to avoid it?"

They both smiled and refused to answer.

At my irritated huff, Lily said, "you know, I bet he's at Uncle Jeremy's right now."

"Oh, good idea!" Evie said. "We can probably have him here in half an hour if we say it's urgent."

They turned to me, waiting for my approval, and I had to think. Butterflies were suddenly doing somersaults in my stomach, but I didn't think I'd be able to stand waiting very long to talk to him.

"Let's do it."