Remnants: A Dark Sapphic Novella

By DJ Krimmer

Kaitlin

On the surface, I had perfected my disguise. I would stay home, take care of the house, and play the role of a doting wife. And although things weren't perfect, I made them appear they were. I'd conceal the bruises, make up stories for the tears,

• Language: English
• Publisher: DJ Krimmer
• Release date: Aug 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088252932

Book preview

Prologue

KAITLIN

K aitlin! A soft, sophisticated feminine voice scolds me. "Why are you crying? You’re going to ruin your

makeup." I glance up at Lauren, my older sister, who is looking like a vision in her nude pink Oscar de la Renta

strapless gown, that against her creamy skin and long brown hair, is breathtaking.

Wow, My voice sounds stuffy due to the crying. Your dress is so beautiful. I say softly as she dabs at my face to

stop the running makeup.

"Yours is too Kaitlin, James really did a good job. I will admit that I was a bit skeptical at first when you said he was

in charge of designing the entire wedding, but he pulled it off. Now what is going on?"

I let out a shaky breath before looking back up at her.

Lauren, I don’t think I’m supposed to marry James. Her slender face falls as she stands up, rushing to shut and

lock the door to our dressing room. She heads back to her original spot in front of me and begins, rougher than

before, cleaning my face.

"James is a wealthy man. A wealthy man on his way to being the elite in his field and he chose you. You will be set!

He even likes your stupid cafe bakery dreams."

I chew on my lip nervously, actually James hates my bakery idea.

No wife of mine will be working, plus being around all that sugar won’t be good for your eating habits. Lauren

knows this. Or, at least she should. I’ve told her several times that James doesn’t believe in me working.

I didn’t expect this. I just… Lauren holds up her hand to silence me.

"You owe our family this after the absolute embarrassment and shame you put on us while you were in high school.

We had to move, change churches. This is a blessing and a way to prove that whatever that was, it was a disgusting

phase that you are over. And now, mother and father don’t have to figure out how to continue to support you since

you refused to go to college."

I wince at her sharp words as she finishes reapplying my makeup before jerking my face to look in the mirror. "It’s

perfect. Now, stand up, suck it up, suck it in and go out there and marry him."

What if we don’t really love each other. I say softly, trying once more as she shoves my bouquet in my hands

before she scoffs.

"Kaitlin, you’re getting married, love has zero to do with it. This is a business transaction. You stay tiny, dim witted

and attractive, he supplies you with a ridiculous amount of cash. Now move."

Chapter One

KAITLIN - PRESENT DAY

My body continues to shake involuntarily as I stare at the numbers blinking back at me.

How?

How is this even possible when I’ve been doing everything right? I feel the heat and pressure building behind my eyes. No. I can’t cry, not with him standing right here. It will only anger him further. I stare at his clean-shaven face.

His perfectly squared jaw ticks and his thin lips tighten into a line as he glares at the number on the scale. I’ve failed my weigh-in, again. I haven’t lost any weight, and the disappointment was clear on his face.

James, I breathe softly as I step off of the scale, quickly grabbing my robe. I didn’t want him to see me in my underwear and honestly, it is very apparent that he didn’t want to see me either. I am sorry, I tried so...

James holds his hand up, silencing me. He shakes his head, styled short brown hair unmoving.

I am at a loss for words. He lets out a sarcastic laugh and begins to walk away before spinning around on his heel and forcing himself into my personal space. I hold still, it’s easier to just let him run his course than it would be to fight back. I learned that the hard way years ago.

I give you everything, Kaitlin. A new Mercedes in the driveway of your expensive dream home, a shopping allowance, hair, nails, makeup. I ask so little of you. Clean the house, cook and stay fit so that I can take you to events without having to feel embarrassed. Kaitlin, do you know what it’s like, being at the top of my field and having a wife that looks like… He didn’t have to finish his sentence. I am not the wife that belongs on the arm of the leading cosmetic surgeon to high society.

I chew on my bottom lip and look down. James growls in frustration as he heads towards the door again. Five pounds by next week, or I will put you back on those diet pills. Stop making me the bad guy Kaitlin. I want to love you and you’re making it so difficult.

My bottom lip quivers as I whisper an apology before he leaves the bathroom. I stay still for several minutes in silence. Not daring to move until I hear the garage door opening, my signal that he is definitely out of the house.

Once I am sure he is gone, I feel my perfectly measured breaths become labored. My panting rattles my whole core as I stare at myself in the mirror. Poker straight blonde hair pulled tightly back into a sleek bun. My blue irises look like crystals due to the tears that were filling my red-rimmed eyes. My fair skin, perfectly buffed and polished and hairless in every part that matters. The parts that were not unsightly. I couldn’t show my upper arms as they are a little fuller, my tummy is soft and have stretch marks, my thighs rub together and it has caused such a problem that I wasn’t allowed to wear jeans around James as the noise might set him off.

I make a noise of disgust at myself while looking in the mirror as I pull my fuller, soft jaw tight with my fingers.

Why didn’t I lose the weight? I had tried so hard and followed the ridiculous diet plan. Not a single pound. Sighing,

I walk from the large, very white bathroom, to the master bedroom. It’s a large room, complete with a giant walk out balcony. Against the opposite wall as the balcony is a huge decorative four poster king bed, perfectly made and un-slept in. James and I haven’t slept in bed together in nearly two years. This room is for show and to hold our clothes as I alternate between the guest room downstairs or the couch and James will sleep in the basement on the nights he actually comes home.

I look at the tablet on the nightstand, reading the date. Only three more days and he will be off to his conference for an entire week. I hate the feeling of relief I feel at the thought of him being across the country. When James is gone, I get to wear my hair down; I get to pull out my sweatshirts that I hid with our wedding album because god knows he would never look there. Hell, I might even sneak a baked good or a sweet iced coffee while he is gone.

A smile forms on my lips at that thought as I walk into my closet and pull out my outfit for the day - a vintage inspired 1950s short sleeved dress in a light blue with white polka dot. I grab my compression wear and begin the exhausting task of forcing my body into the undergarment before slipping on the god awful dress. I hate dressing this way. It wasn’t practical or my style in the least. I prefer leggings or jeans and I love sweatshirts with little puns on them. But I am James’ dutiful housewife, and these are the clothes I am expected to wear, my uniform. I slip on my low heel Mary Janes in white and go back to the bathroom to begin applying the layers of makeup.

As I pass by my balcony door, I pause at the sight, my heart dropping. This can’t be happening. I jerk open the french doors and step onto the balcony as I stare at the house across the street. A moving truck has pulled up outside, but the truck isn’t what has my heart ramming against my ribcage, it is the massive, black dog that lets out a bark as the movers carry the boxes into the small house.

This street is a divided area. A developer had bought our side out and flattened to make room for overpriced homes such as mine, while the other side refused to sell, so there were three bungalow homes that were rented out. James hates them and has tried on numerous