Cold Words of Love

"Are you going to tell me what's been eating at you?" April asked, breaking the long silence.

Jaden let out a long sigh. "Nothing is wrong..."

April arched a brow. "Really? Could have fooled me." She nodded to the ribbon in Jaden's hands. "You've been fumbling with that same arrangement for the past twenty minutes."

Jaden coerced her mind out of the fog it had been in and forced her attention back to the flower arrangement she'd been working on. "I just can't believe it's already been so long since they died..."

April leaned forward and squeezed Jaden's hand. "Me either..." She forced a smile as she nodded to the flowers Jaden had been working on. "But I know Gwen would have loved these. They're beautiful..."

Jaden nodded. "Yes... She would..." She gently stroked the soft pedals of roses she'd clipped earlier. "We should all be grateful that His Majesty has provided such nice accommodations for the ones we've lost... And allowed us access to these as well..." Her eyes stared unseeing down into the flowers as her mind replayed the nights that had passed since Russ's return. Her brows furrowed. "Do... do you think someone can fall out of love?"

April forced her scowl into a smile as she gave Jaden's hand a reassuring squeeze. "His Majesty has not fallen out of love with you if that is what has you so down today." Her smile brightened. "You have spent nearly every night with him for the past weeks since his return, have you not?"

Jaden nodded reluctantly. "But it's not what you think... We've only slept... nothing else..." Her brows knitted. "It's as if he returned a different person..."

April tried to hide her pity behind a smile because she could not deny he'd been acting differently lately. "I'm sure it's just nerves... with the coronation quickly approaching, and the wedding... and all the work with his sister and Miss Joslyn.

Her brows tented more as she stared at the rose. "It's precisely that that concerns me."

April tilted her head. "What about? The coronation, wedding, or the gallery opening?"

She let out a heavy sigh as she finally set the flowers down and stood up. "Must I choose one?"

"Well no... I suppose not... but I'm sure after all the excitement fades, things will go back to normal with the prince."

Jaden retrieved the basket of finished flowers. "I hope you're right..." She frowned as she stared down into the basket of beautiful flowers. {I can't shake the feeling something happened while he was away that he isn't telling me... and I know it involves that woman...} Jaden gave herself a mental kick for being jealous of someone who nearly died only a few weeks ago, but she couldn't push away the feelings bubbling up deep inside. She wasn't sure which upset her more, the fact the woman bore the mark that should have been meant for her, his soon-to-be wife... or the fact that they were still so close though there seemed to be more tension than usual... She could see with each visit how much Jos meant to Russ and how much he meant to her... and it secretly tore at Jaden. Honestly, it always had... but it seemed to more so now than before. "Why..." She muttered.

"Why what?" April asked as she added the finishing touches to the flowers Jaden had discarded.

"Huh? Oh... I was just thinking out loud... Sorry..."

April arched a brow. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine... Let's get these flowers to the graves before it gets too late."

***

"Jos this is amazing!" Shelly exclaimed as she peered into the most recent box of antiques Jos had brought from her old home.

Russ glanced into the box before his attention moved back to Jos and baby Cam who cooed loudly from her arms. "It really is something, Jos. Are you sure you want to give this stuff up?"

Jos smiled not taking her eyes off those of the joyous baby sitting up in her arms. "I'm sure. Besides, I'm not giving anything up. I'll still be able to see it if I like. And besides, it's going to a good cause, isn't that right, Cam?" Cam giggled in excitement at her soft, playful words. "Tell uncle Russy instead of complaining and questioning everything, he should get his things from grandpa Poseidon's storage rooms and add them to the gallery too."

Russ's brows arched in confusion. "What do you mean my things from Poseidon's storage?"

Jos sent him a dubious glance. "You don't honestly think he actually let you sell off priceless family heirlooms, do you?"

"But I... Gahhhh!" He ran both hands into his hair. "I'll be back, I gotta go call that bastard!" He began stomping toward the door but paused, turning back to lean over Jos's lap and place a kiss on the soft down of his nephew's head. Russ chuckled as Jos sucked in a breath at his closeness. He leaned closer to her as he whispered. "There was a time not so distantly when I dreamed of nothing more than kissing our child's head while he rested in your arms... I guess I'll take what I can get..." He lifted, holding her troubled eyes. "Parenthood really does suit you." Movement from the hallway caught his attention past the open door. He ruffled Cam's soft hair and gave Jos's shoulder a meaningful squeeze before he made his way from the room.

Shelly watched silently at the exchange, not taking her eyes off them until her brother had left the room. She let out a sigh as she tilted her head and studied Jos and Cam. "He's not wrong, you know... You're a natural with kids..." She let out another heavy sigh. "But he shouldn't have said that to you..." Her hand moved to her own stomach. "I wanted to wait until things between you and Arei smoothed over better... but..." A warm smile curved her lips. "I'm... Well, we are expecting again..." Happy tears streamed down her cheeks as she met Jos's shocked eyes. "I only hope Rin gets to experience it all this time..."

Jos forced down her own hurt. "Congratulations." She smiled weakly down at Cam as she untangled his little hands from a strand of her hair. "I'm happy for you, truly... and I can't wait to meet and spoil them as well." A smile curved her lips as she stood and walked over to where Shelly sat on the top of the desk. "Though I may have to change the wording of the trust fund." She handed Cam over as he reached out for his momma. She gave Shelly an affectionate hug. "You and Rin deserve happiness after all you've both been through."

Shelly frowned as she studied Jos's sad eyes that couldn't be hidden by the smile plastered to her face. "So do you."

She let out a sigh. "Maybe someday..." She gave Shelly another hug and gave Cam a kiss on his plump cheek before turning toward a smaller box on the desk. "Anyways, I still have a few more things to deliver... Are you and Rin still stopping by later? I'm sure Poseidon will be more than willing to find time for this news."

Shelly giggled, "Yeah. Ya know a pregnant woman never turns down free food!"

Jos didn't have to look hard to find Jaden. The young wolf was leaning against the corner of the hall, clutching a basket of flowers. Jos arched a brow. "Oh... I was just looking for you." She nodded to the box in her hands. "I found some things that seem Celtic and thought you may be interested." She glanced down at the basket in the stunned girl's hands. "Oh... Um... Are you going to the gravesite?"

Jaden nodded, in too much shock still yet from the scene she'd nearly walked in on earlier to speak. She'd planned on letting Russ know where she was going but had forgotten all about the basket, nearly dropping it, when she'd seen him leaning over this woman... They had looked like the perfect doting parents showing their love for their own child. She knew that wasn't the case, but it hurt all the same... especially with the way he'd been acting since all that had happened a few weeks ago...

"Are you alright? You look pale." Jos set the box down and walked over to take the basket, but Jaden clung to it tightly.

"I'm fine... I..." She looked away as she bit into her lower lip, not wanting to admit her jealousy of the woman standing in front of her.

Jos let out a sigh. "I promise it gets easier the more time that passes... I wish I could say it fades completely, but unfortunately, it never does."

Jaden's wide eyes shot up to Jos, but when she realized Jos was staring down at the flowers, she realized the other woman must be talking about those that had passed.

"Would you mind if I join you? I realize I didn't know them as well... or at all really... but I still feel a sense of responsibility to them. I can't help but think there might have been more we could have done for them had we acted sooner..."

"That's very conceded of you to say..." Jaden said as she forced herself to walk past Jos.

Jos frowned as she scooped up the box and followed. "How so?"

Jaden glanced over her shoulder, hating herself for the anger she felt toward this person. She shrugged. "Just thinking you are important enough... strong enough to affect so many other people's lives... but then again, I suppose where this island and its people are concerned you are the sun..."

Jos's frown deepened at the passive-aggressive remark. "I... I'm sorry..."

Jaden's steps faltered as her brows knotted in frustration. She stared down at the elegant but worn carpet. "What are you apologizing to me for?"

Jos swallowed down a lump of uncertainty. "I... I must have done something to upset you... I... I thought we were on good terms... friends even... before I... I..."

Jaden snapped around to face her, forcing her angry tears back. "Can you really ever be friends with your future husband's ex-lover? Especially knowing he still has unresolved feelings?"

Jos's mouth dropped. "If this is about what happened the last night he spent at Poseidon's palace... I hope he explained... I have no feelings for him and all the feelings he thinks he has are merely results of my cur...se..." Her words faltered when she realized this was all coming as even more of a surprise to the young werewolf. "He... He didn't tell you..."

Jaden clenched her jaws. "No... he didn't but thank you so much for clarifying. I'd been worried I was just being paranoid and jealous. It seems I was right to be concerned." She spun on her heels and all but ran from the palace.

Jos's shoulders dropped as she watched the girl disappear down the hall. With a heavy sigh, she headed toward the staff entrance. Finding one of the housekeepers, she handed over the box. "Can you see that the princess consort gets this?"

The elderly lady gave Jos a warm smile. "You just missed her, dear." The old maid patted Jos's cheek. "I swear you've not aged a bit, dear. Seeing your sweet face in these halls again does my old heart good." She took the box. "I'll see that the young miss gets it, don't you worry."

Jos nodded, giving the lady her warmest forced smile. "Thank you. Take care."

"Do you need me to call a driver for you?" She asked.

Jos shook her head. "No, thank you. I have a few stops around town before heading home anyway."

***

Jos frowned as she stared at the shelf in front of her. She'd needed time to think so she'd decided to drive herself home. Arei would be slightly irritated that she'd taken off without someone to accompany her, but what could one of the palace guards do that she couldn't... besides... Her eyes scanned the shelves. "This is embarrassing enough by myself..." She muttered as she stroked her chin.

"Can I help you miss?"

Jos's eyes moved from the young girl's pretty face down to her name tag then back up with an awkward smile. "I... um... you wouldn't know which brand is the most accurate... would you?"

The girl gave her a knowing smile as she stepped over to the shelf and began plucking boxes from it. "This one takes the least amount of time, while this one will let you know up to three days before your first missed period..." She plucked down another box. "But this one is the easiest to read." She pointed to the image on the front of the box. "It will simply say pregnant or not pregnant. I personally recommend one of each of these three just to be one hundred percent." The girl sent her a wink.

Jos swallowed hard as she took all three pregnancy tests and placed them in the shopping basket. "Th-thank you..." She said nervously as she stepped past the girl with her head down.