At his will

Knowing better

Alicia POV:

Rachel continued with the lecture about Tyson, "Look Alicia, I can’t tell you how to live your life, I can only offer advice as a friend... Yes I know that you didn't want a 'hook up' from your mother but Raymond is a great guy, you couldn't do better if you picked him yourself and he loves you..." she trailed off.

"I know" I pleaded, mostly to get her off my back.

My other line beeped indicating another call coming in, I excused myself promising to call Rachel back, "hello".

"Goodday is this Mrs Johansson?"

"This is she", I ignored the fact that she used Raymond’s last name. Well I guess it is mine now also. 

"Dr. Johansson asked me to call you and ask if you can come to St. Augustine Private as soon as possible"

"Why, what's wrong? "

"Ma'am that's all he told me".

"Okay then, thank you." i said before hanging up. Worry englufed me like fire on dry grass... What could possibly be wrong,  why would Raymond need me at the hospital so urgently,  hmm maybe I did have feelings for him.

I quickly got dressed and waited for the elevator, i never realized how long it took for the elevator to arrive before. I rushed pass the concierge but the sight of him stopped me in my tracks, I ignored him and ran out the large double doors with gold trimmings onto the street. The valet called a taxi and I was on my way; it was a fifteen minute drive to the hospital and Raymond was on my mind the entire time. I hope everything is okay with him he's a good man, I thought about how my life would be as Raymond’s wife, if we would have kids; one girl and two boys, our house.  Raymond owns three houses; one in the Hamptons he inherited from his dad and the other two he bought. I never dreamed I would be moving into someone's home I always dreamt of starting together and creating our own.  My parents gave me the condo in Manhattan; although I'm  fully capable of purchasing my own home, but they never think of me as anything but their baby girl. I appreciate all that they do though, it made me able to have enough resources to be able to build a beautiful family home in the country.

Would Raymond treat me right, would he be an active husband and father, sure at the moment he seems interested, it could be that he just wants the nookie, but he sure has been patient to get it.  I hope my mother made the right choice for me because I'm willing to try but at the first sign of Ray being an asśhoľe I'm out.

The driver pulled into the emergency section at the hospital and I gathered my thoughts and got out of the car. I walked up to the pretty yet simple receptionist and asked her for Ray, her pleasant look changed so swiftly it gave me whiplash, "Dr Johansson is seeing a patient at the moment, how may I help you?" She said with an obvious scorn. "He sent for me, is he ok?" I ignored her and showed my concern. "And, what's your name?" she implied just as rudely.  "I am Mrs Alicia Johansson, my husband called for me, so if you would so kindly let him know I've arrived". apparently she didn't expect that because she looked speechless.  The nurse behind her interrupted and stated that she would let the Dr know.

As I turned away and got to a seat in the waiting room a few feet away from the nurse Raymond came running out, he stopped and wrapped his arm around my waist, spun me around and lifted me up he kissed me deeply then said "baby I missed you soo.. much", "I missed you too but you can't call me like that, I thought something horrible had happened to you!", "something did,  my heart started swelling and the only thing that could have helped it was your kiss just now" I didn't realize people were paying attention to us until I heard the Ooos and Ahhhs of the crowd. As I scanned the room blushing, my eyes made four with nurse grump-alot. She had her face in full troll mode, she's surely having a horrible day, to be this grumpy and work the front desk of a hospital is not recommended.

Raymond took my hand, waved at the patients and escorted me down the hall, "I have a surprise for you princess", there goes that blush again, on cue.  We arrived at the doctors lounge, it was nice; for a moment I forgot I was at a hospital.  The walls were a pastel green with chocolate brown columns and floral print drapes, though the colours were so calm the room had a very bright feeling to it. Raymond reached out and took my hand; squeezed my fingers and started leading me to a door that said Pantry. On the counter inside the pantry there were four boxes of various sizes, my grin widened; I so love getting presents.  "Mrs Johansson I am pleased to say that marrying you was the best decision of my life and I vow to prove that to you and ensure that everyday of your life being my wife is happier than the last; so I realize that I have been giving a lot of my time to the hospital and I in no way intend to make you feel neglected and I realized that I have been doing just that, so in a pathetic attempt to make it up to you these are yours and I hope you like them".  He said in a smooth rhythm then added,  " I know I cannot buy your love and this is not an attempt to,  I just want you to be happy with your decision to be my wife, so go on open them baby".

Alicia POV:

I started with the smallest of the boxes, it had a beautiful white gold tennis bracelet. I took it out, ran my fingers across it, turned to Ray and wrapped my arms around him, "thank you" I said genuinely appreciative. Although I do own at least four other tennis bracelets, this one was beautiful in its own way. I opened the box a bit larger than the first and there was a dress, a sleek soft pink dress with a deep neckline. I looked at him seeing a pattern to his presents and narrowed my eyes, he held his hand up in defense. I rushed for the third box expecting shoes and there they were, nude louiboutons. I smiled to myself thinking how good i was at this. I looked at the largest box but an idea escaped me. I looked at Ray and he shrugged pretending he had no clue as to what it was.

I quickly tore the wrapper off and in the box there was a few smaller boxes. One had tickets to a play, the other a real estate map and the other had a blind fold. I looked at Raymond in confusion expecting an explanation. He smiled and directed me to turn around. He secured my blind fold and started leading me away, the sun hit my face aggressively and i knew we were outside. He slid the blindfold off with ease and there was a silver Range Rover Evoque in front of me with a bow on the hood.

"You bought me a car?" I said confused. "Why?" The excited look he had on his face turned to one of caution. "I thought you might like it and I need to ask you something...".

"Well?" I quizzed.

"The hospital here needs help, long... term.. help.."

"Yes!" I hurried him along as my anticipation build up.

"They asked me if I would stay here a bit longer, just a few weeks, to help out and I said yes"

"What? You said yes without consulting me? How could you Ray?" I stormed off back through the door behind us and Ray quickly followed calling my name. In the lounge was non other than sour pus face. I scowled at her. He reached out and held on to my waistband, he turned me around to face him and apologized. "I should have consulted you before I gave my answer, you are my wife and I don't want you to think that I don't consider your opinion". He leaves so little room for you to be angry at him.

I shrugged out of his hands and gathered the box with the bracelet and the keys he held out and headed to the car. He followed me carrying the other three boxes placing them in the back seat of the Evoque along with the bow from the hood. "We'll talk about this at home" I said putting the gear in reverse. "Ok" he said "drive safely".

I got to the hotel furious, how could he think that I would pick my life up and just stay here for so long. That he gets to choose for me. That I must be less than him or obedient to everything he says. I feel so insulted. Raymond took his merry time getting home, in fact it was 2:27am when I looked at the time. He headed straight for the shower then came into bed and turned his back to me. What!

Something is up! And i'm not being paranoid because he got a call at that hour too, sure he's a doctor but he's not an on-call doctor. He even pressed it out, why didn't he just take the call if it was innocent. Married a week and he's already cheating! I'm getting this marriage annulled.

I woke up at 5:15am to an empty bed.

This man really is testing my patience i guess he thinks I'm playing with him. I called his cell and surprise surprise! No answer.

Tears started threatening to fall, i feel sick and my head immediately starts hurting. I want to talk to someone, I want to talk to my mother.

"Hi sweetie" she answers cheerily. "Mom...I...Ray...",

"what's wrong sweetie?"

"I think... I think he's cheating mom!"

"What! That's not possible, hunnie"

"He's acting strangely and... and... he's not taking my calls. He's coming in late hours of the morning and he extended the trip"

"He's a doctor baby, those things are normal, I'm sure everything is fine, ok? Now wipe those tears and go be a wife!"

"Later mom" I hung up without waiting on a response. Who didn't know she would've taken his side. Arghh..!

I get in the shower and i keep crying, is this my life now, mistress after mistress, expensive gifts for forgiveness, late nights and ignored calls.  I leave the shower and slip into a white sundress with yellow roses, although my outfit is cheery I feel nothing close. I put on a white sun hat grab my handbag, double check for my wallet and headed for my 'new car'. I've been driving for well over fifteen minutes, it doesn't feel like I'm present; it's more like I'm in a movie watching myself drive and I don't know where I want to go...

I know this place, 'Moca Estates' oh my!

This is where Tyson lives, why did i come here?