Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 102: What Did I Do?

Chapter 102: What Did I Do?

Talia watched Joe’s face going blank. He really didn’t know why his wife is angry at him now.

What did I do? Can’t I miss her?

Sure she wanted to be with her friend for a week, but that doesn’t mean he can’t even visit her, right?

"Is Becky in a bad mood?" Joe rubbed his glabella, "Ah! Is it because her team lost the championship?"

Joe looked at Talia and Talia really wanted to give a nice smack to his face.

’Really dude? Your wife is thinking you are a cheater and almost aborted your baby and here you are wondering if she’s in a "bad mood" because some football team lost?’

"Talia... What is it? You two didn’t fight did you?"

Joe really couldn’t understand. Everything was fine until that day of the riots. And that day she seemed off and he thought she might have been scared because of what happened and so he even arranged for a short vacation. Not only did Rebecca refuse but also she opted to stay with her friend who was supposedly scared-to-be-alone for a week and so he agreed. He thought staying here would improve her mood.

But why does it seem like his wife is angry at him now?

"You don’t know?"

Talia got a bit annoyed at Joe. She believed Joe didn’t cheat but she knew Rebecca is not an unreasonable person. If she doubts, there must be more to it.

For Rebecca, seeing Joe and Rachel having breakfast together when he was supposed to be with a client must be the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Joe immediately got worried. "She’s mad at me?" he really was confused.

Seeing Talia shrug, Joe realised that his wife is indeed angry with him. "Why? Did she tell you? " he asked standing up and walked to the bedroom door.

He wanted to talk to her.

Rebecca was leaning on the door listening to what Joe was saying. Her heart broke to pieces hearing the way he spoke.

He is not even feeling guilty that lied to me... He doesn’t even realise what he did is wrong... Where did I go wrong?

She could not stop her tears.

No! Why should I cry? He’s the one who is wrong!

Hearing the footsteps nearing the door, her tears stopped and her face contorted with anger.

"Tallie...send him away! I don’t want to see him!"

Talia sighed deeply hearing Rebecca’s angry voice. She really was enraged and not acting coy for her husband to cojole her.

Talia didn’t want to be involved in the fight between the couple, but she already is. And Rebecca is a good friend of hers and it would be wrong to not take her side for now.

"Joe..." Talia opened the door and Joe stood there frozen not knowing what to do.

What big blunder did I commit making even Talia to take sides? And she is asking me to leave?

"Talia, please tell me what it is..." Joe walked up to Talia and asked not even minding the curious gazes of the guards.

"You really don’t know?" Talia didn’t know what to think of Joe anymore. He has made his wife so insecure to the extent of her leaving him, and he doesn’t even realise what he did?

"Come on now! Don’t play this game with me. Can’t you tell me what it is?"

Nothing is more annoying than this. Why can’t she say Rebecca is mad because "you did ’this’" and get on with it? Why should all women be this indirect? If I know what I did wrong, wouldn’t I’ve apologised first? Will I be standing here and asking?

Talia on the other hand got angered by his attitude, "You don’t even know what you did? Then you don’t deserve her!"

Saying this she tried to make him go out but Joe stood his ground, "Come on Talia... I really don’t know. Help me here. I really miss her already. You know I love her..." he tried to grab her hand but Mr. Ed caught his hand and pulled him out.

"Mr. Feldstein, Her Royal Highness does not wish to interact with you anymore. Please be on your way ,"Mr. Ed said politely.

Joe saw his hand grabbed by that guard and forecebly pulled it out.

Really now? Her Royal Highness? Hmpf! She’s Talia, my wife’s best friend! Who is he to intrude?

He doesn’t like to be manhandled but right now he didn’t want to pick a fight.

" Talia...please... " he looked at Talia with his eyes begging.

" Don’t tell him... If he really cares for me, let him find out himself," Talia heard Rebecca’s voice from behind her and closing her eyes took in a deep breath.

"You heard her!" Talia shrugged and closed the door.

She wanted to force those two to sit and talk but she knew Rebecca is pretty fragile right now and she needed to take her side.

If Talia insisted that Rebecca talks with Joe now, Rebecca will definitely leave and who knows what she’d do? She didn’t want to push Rebecca away.

She believed Joe, but he did lie to Rebecca about his secret meeting with Rachel. He needs to recognise where he stepped the line.

Even if his relationship with his ex-girlfriend is purely platonic now, there are some lines he cannot cross. Lying to his wife about meeting his ex is definitely one.

Outside, Joe stood frozen for sometime and not being able to bear the stares of the two military personnel guarding the door, he left. He was angry his wife is taking refuge in a place where he can’t even talk to her.

’Security? She is throwing me awayettimg me deal with securities? The nerve on that woman! See how I punish you when you come back. I’ll make sure you cannot get up from bed for a week! If not ill change my name!’ Joe mumbled as he left.

"Amy, why is it hard for a woman to express her grievances to a man without making a complicated riddle out of it?" Mr. Ed asked Amy Whittle, his partner.

He saw the dejected man leaving and he could feel him. His wife does that too and it annoys him everytime. If the wife directly states her problem with him, won’t it be easier to compromise?

" Why should we? Shouldn’t you know what you did wrong?" Amy said with a snort.

"We really don’t and that’s why we ask..."

"Ha! That’s right! You’d know if you did one bad thing. You lie and lie and those lies pile up and one day you can’t keep up with your lies and pretend like you’re the victims..."

Amy went on bashing all the men in the planet and Mr. Ed wished he didn’t ask Amy anything. He didn’t want to be bashed by his coworker.

If he wants to be bashed by a woman, he’d rather choose his wife back at home. At least she makes a mean pie!

---

Rebecca was on the bed while Talia was reading a book.

"Thank you, Tallie..." Rebecca said hugging the pillow. She really didn’t have words to say to her. Previously when she was in a desperate situation, it was Talia who helped her and even now, it is her who is helping her.

She might be uncaring at times and act like a snob at times but she really is a good friend who’d offer a helping hand when you are in despair.

"Never mind," Talia really didn’t mind.

Actually Rebecca’s presence is keeping her sane too. If not, who knows what her guilt about Cyrus that is hiding deep in her heart will do to her.

Fred left abruptly, she cannot contact her grandfather, she cannot return back to her country, there are people looking for her death...

She really has a lot to worry about. But Rebecca’s presence is a nice distraction.

Rebecca needs someone by her and so does she. Both are helping each other.

"Shouldn’t you inform him of your pregnancy?" Talia brought it up since Rebecca seemed willing to talk.

She really cannot hide her pregnancy for long, can she? In a few months, her body will reveal it.

"I know," Rebecca rolled and laid on her back. She gently caressed her lower abdomen and there was a gentle smile in her face.

Talia was stunned seeing that smile on Rebecca. She seemed to be glowing with that motherly smile. And pregnancy is good on her. She didn’t even have any morning sickness. She is lucky!

Talia went back to reading her book. She had to learn a lot about the history and traditions of Rosandale before going there. As their Princess she’d be expected to know everything. Her great grandmother has sent her some books to learn.

"That day was not the first Tallie..."

Talia turned to see Rebecca and the warm light from the night lamp revealed a glittering line originating from the corner of her eye.

Rebecca’s crying.

Talia closed her book and laid beside her looking at the ceiling. All she could do was being the listening ear. It might not be much, but it is what Rebecca needs for now.

"There were many times he’d just prefer to be by her side, even leaving me alone. Once he said that his mother was sick and went to a family dinner in Rachel’s parents house with her... His family... They are influential and they preferred a blue-blood like Rachel Crawley to be their daughter-in-law. And... Me... I’m just the eighth child of a farmer from South! I’m not suitable for their family...

I struggled, persevered and got his parent’s permission back then for our wedding. Didn’t get me wrong, he was so good to me back then... He was perfect. He stood right by me, opposed his family, protected me... His family still have no good feelings towards me but they had to accept me for Joe. I trusted him so much, But now... "

Rebecca stopped speaking further and Talia didn’t speak too. She could understand what Rebecca says.

Status difference does mean a lot in any culture.

" I’m thinking of staying with my parents for a while, Tallie... I miss that place. It’s been a while I went back to my home town. The smell of crops, the cows and horses... You want to join me?"

Rebecca elbowed Talia.

"Horses?" Talia was intrigued. She loved horses. Dogs and horses... They are the most intelligent and loyal animals there is. Maybe dolphins too.

"Yes, My father has a farm. My sister married a man with a ranch and lives next town from my parents. You know, Sally - the sister I love... Her."

"Ah, really?" Talia never went to the southern part of this country and wanted to visit there. She’s herd it would be hot there always. She never have been to hot places.

Maybe this will serve as a distraction. But she needs to consider her safety too.

"But ... Will that place be safe?" she asked Rebecca.

"Safe? That town will be the safest place you ever will be. There are more firearms than people and once you enter there, they’d protect you with their life! They are the most amazing people in the world!" Rebecca was excited.

Talia would debate Rebecca’s words that no one will be nice to others for no reason but she could see the similarly with the people of Esteria.

She wanted to be there more.