Page 4 of The Temptation of Truth

I jerk upright. “Eight weeks? I can’t...I can’t leave for eight weeks.”

“Why not?”

I shoot from my chair and start to pace. “Well, Brady needs me here."

“Brady is an adult capable of taking care of himself, Aurora.”

“We just got married, Uncle Wade.”

“You could come home every other week. He could come visit you. You wouldn’t have to be without each other for long periods. You should discuss it with him.”

“That wouldn’t work,” I say with a shake of my head. I almost laugh at the idea of Brady taking time off work. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Uncle Wade asks again.

“Because.”

“Becausewhy, Aurora?”

I huff but don’t answer, so he continues.

“Becauseyoudon’t want to do it? Or because you think Brady wouldn’t want you to? If it’s the latter, you won’t know unless you discuss it with him.”

I open my mouth to respond, but then I bite my tongue and swallow back the answer to his first question. Regarding the second...Well, just the thought of discussing this with Brady has my forehead creasing with worry. I can’t tell Uncle Wade that, though. He’s already not fond of my husband.

I could just tell him no and end it, but for some reason I don’t. A simplenoisn’t good enough for me, I guess, and I’m not sure if it’s to convince my uncle or myself. Instead, I run through other excuses in my head, each one sounding more ridiculous than the last. I don’t want to fall behind on laundry? I don’t own real luggage? I’ve got nothing to wear? My husband is in a rush to get me pregnant? The last one creates a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Traveling will be so much harder after I have a baby.

I stop at the window and look out at my garden, running my eyes over the colorful blooms. When we bought this house, the small plot of land was my favorite part, and over the last year, I’ve turned it in to something beautiful. Then I move my gaze to the potted orchid on the shelf in the living room. It’s the only greenery I’m allowed to keep in the house. Of all the reasons I’ve considered, this is the one that hits me the hardest.

“My flowers will die.”

“Couldn’t your husband?—”

“No,” I say with a huffed laugh. “He definitely couldn’t.”

Brady in the dirt with the bugs? No. I couldn’t trust him to water them, let alone do all the other things necessary to keep the plants healthy and thriving. Even in my imagination, the image is comical.

“Savannah will be paying you enough that you could hire a gardener.”

The statement penetrates my thoughts and piques my curiosity before I can stop it.

“How much would she be paying me?” I cringe and shake my head. “Actually, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

“Aurora.”

“Uncle Wade. Leaving the country for eight weeks is just not feasible for me right now.”

He inhales and exhales deeply. “Aurora, forgive me if this comes off as an overstep?—”

“Never stopped you before,” I grumble, but he continues.

“—but I’ve watched you put everything you love on hold.”

“We’ve only just gotten married, and marriage takes compromise.”

“Compromise? And what has Brady compromised?”