Chapter 3 Three’s A Crowd

TAMMY'S POV

Sue looks at me with wide eyes from the couch and says “Tammy, hi! Welcome home. It’s a…uhm…surprise to see you back from your trip so early.”

Technically, this is Sue’s home as much as it’s mine, so I’m not too surprised that she’s here. She’s been living here with Sean even before I moved in after our wedding. Sean explained to me that since his dad passed away, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Sue on her own.

His apartment is also relatively close to the company’s headquarters - which is ideal for both him and Sue - and it’s definitely big enough for all three of us.

Things do sometimes tend to get awkward when you're living with your mother-in-law but I can’t imagine asking her to move out, she’s family.

This was definitely one of those times where things are awkward. What was Sean doing feeding her fruit so seductively on the couch? Surely, this isn’t a ‘normal’ mother-son relationship.

I look over at Sean as he chews on a strawberry, not breaking my eye contact. A slow smile emerges from the corner of his mouth.

“Darling, you’re home. What a surprise to see you. You weren’t enjoying Greece?” he asks.

He looks to Sue and then back to me as he stands up from off the sofa and stalks towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. I can feel his sculpted abs pushing against me as he stares down into my questioning eyes.

This is strange. Why is Sean acting so affectionate? Didn’t I just walk in on him and his step mother having what looked like an intimate moment? What the hell is going on?

I shake my head clear of the confusing thoughts buzzing around in my head as I manage to say, “Ah, no, Greece was great. I just…I didn’t want to be alone anymore. The magic sort of disappeared when you did.”

I can’t shake what I’ve just seen as I push Sean off of me and press my fingers to my temples, trying to make sense of this.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the office?” I ask, looking between Sean and Sue for any explanation.“I thought Monday’s were your busiest days, you know, strategy meetings until late?”

“Oh, we decided to take a quick lunch break.” Sean says matter-of-factly.

Sue nods in agreement with that too beautiful smile on her face and adds, “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you had to cut your little trip short. I know it was supposed to be a special one. But no bother, why don’t I arrange for Ángel to come over and put together a romantic three-course dinner for you out on the balcony?

Ángel is Sue’s private chef. He comes to the apartment every morning to prepare her very specific meal requirements for the day. No carbs, no gluten, no sugar and no lactose. That’s probably why she still has such an incredible figure.

“Oh no, Sue, please, that’s not necessary. I was just going to order in.” I responded .

“Nonsense!” Sue bats the idea away with her perfectly manicured fingers. “I’ve got Ángel on speed-dial. All I have to do is make the call and he'll be here. You go freshen up.”

“Wow, thanks Sue.” I say as I surrender to the idea, “A romantic dinner might be just what I need.”

Sean moves closer to me as he runs his hand along the small of my back and winks at me. I guess he agrees.

I feel myself start to relax a little, Sue is being really nice and Sean looks like he wants to undress me with his eyes.

Maybe I just misunderstood what just happened between them? I must be over thinking things after the failed trip to Greece…

I breathe a long sigh of relief, lean in to Sean once again for a soft kiss before I head back to our bedroom to hop into a shower and put on something more decent than these sweats I’ve been traveling in all day.

I finally feel human again as I put on one of my favorite satin slip dresses with a daringly open back and a plunging halter cut in the front. If Sean was excited before in the lounge, he’s going to lose it when he sees me in this dress.

Finally, I spritz my favorite perfume onto my open décolletage and stroll toward the kitchen to find Sean.

Sue hears me walking in and turns to look at me from over her shoulder to say, “Sean’s on the balcony, darling. He’s just opened a ‘98 Bordeaux for us. Go have a glass! The sunset is incredible from out there.”

What does she mean ‘for us’? Isn’t this supposed to be a romantic anniversary dinner for me and Sean?

I quickly decided that It doesn’t actually matter. I’m exhausted, Sue has organized a lovely dinner for us so I’m not asking questions.

As I head for the open glass doors leading out of the kitchen and onto our private balcony, I glimpse something shining on Sue’s wrist. A stunning antique bracelet, one I’ve seen before in a vintage store in Greece.

The kitchen spotlights make the gold bracelet dazzle, the small diamonds on its face sparkle and the lush emeralds and rubies scattered around the band add a deep vibrance to this special piece. It’s the exact one I fell in love with.

I remember spotting it the second Sean and I stepped into the shop that first day on the Mediterranean Island. The salesperson had told me it was a real antique, very special and adorned in rare gems.

It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever seen, but when I looked at the price tag, I caught my breath. It was probably more than an average person’s yearly salary.

“It’s beautiful, Tam. Get it.” Sean said as he saw me gazing at this bracelet in the display cabinet.

“No way, Sean. It’s just too expensive. I just can’t. Plus, I don’t even like fancy things. I get too nervous that I’ll lose it or break something.”

“Don’t be silly. Call it an anniversary gift from me.” He insisted.

“This trip, being here with you, this is my gift.” I said to him, smiling softly as we walked out of the store empty handed.

Did he go back to that store and buy that bracelet??

And not for me but Sue？