Tender Hearts

02. chapter two

Harlow Rhodes

High ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, and an open floor plan with a professional kitchen. It all that I ever wanted in a house that I could call my own. Everything was just...perfect.

Perfect, perfection, it's all I've known since the day I was born. It wasn't something I was forced into. I could make a mistake and it would still be labeled as perfect. Was it crazy to think that life can be perfect, or at least a close enough to it?

Nothing last forever though, right?

I had the perfect family, my parents loved each other, I was kept happy and healthy. The perfect man, it took a while to snatch him but was it truly worth it? The heartache and tears?

I had everything I could've dreamt of and now it was like a living nightmare.

The doorbell rung bringing me from my deep thoughts, I walked towards the entrance to open the door for whoever it could be. My groceries weren't anywhere near ready it was still being prepared. I unlocked the door and I was surprised at the guest on my door step.

"Who said that I wanted company?" I raised my brow, blocking the entrance.

Marlon rolled his eyes, gently moving aside as he brought in take out. The mouth-watering aroma filled my nose and my stomach cried out in a horrendous, gurgling screech. The sides of his mouth twitched as he tried to hold back a smile at my expense.

"I got your favorite; orange chicken, shrimp fried rice and egg foo young. I got shrimp chow mein to share so you won't keep taking mine. I got an hour and a half until I gotta be back at the office." He said setting things down on the kitchen counter.

Closing the door, I beeline my way to the kitchen.

"You don't have to coddle me." I muttered.

"Since when? You've been coddled your whole existence." He scoffed.

I pulled out a stool and sat on side of him, he opened each container and placed them in front of me. Sitting there I pouted like the child I've been treated like.

"Have you heard from your mom?" Marlon stood up.

"If she didn't even bother to say goodbye then why would she have the decency to call and check on me?" I mumbled, watching as he used the ice maker.

"Well-- nevermind, you're right. But I think during that time, in her mind she was thinking about how her life was a lie. Marriage built on a lie. Husband locked up for God knows how long." He shrugged, turning to me.

I chuckled bitterly.

"I don't think she was worried about leaving her twenty-three year old, adult child behind while she get herself together." He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Oh, yeah you're fine with abandoning people." I stabbed my orange chicken with the plastic fork that was provided.

Marlon stared at me from the kitchen island before sliding a glass of water towards me. His eyes never left mine and I looked elsewhere just to get away from his hardened gaze. He walked around and took his seat again.

"Have you heard from my dad? Is he alright?" I inquired.

He had started on his lunch and I just moved my food around my container, watching his movements.

"I've spoken to him, he's doing alright..." He trailed off.

I could tell that he had more to say by the way that he held his mouth, closing it then opening it as he thought about it.

"What?" I sighed.

"He doesn't want you to visit him but he do want to talk to you. I'm not saying that you have to but it'd make him happy to hear from you." He informed.

I hummed taking a small bite of my food, though internally I was dancing in my seat from the best thing I've had in my mouth in months. I had no opinion my father wanting me to reach out or him wanting to reach out to me. If anything I'm happy to know he's alright.

"I'll think about it, okay?"

Somewhat satisfied with my answer, he returned to minding his business. We ate in silence, with occasional squeak of the Styrofoam containers. I snuck in glances at him every once in a while as we did so.

"I see you're starting to grey." I pointed out.

He paused all movements, I leaned over to look into his face and smiled. "It's really atractive." I added.

"You're responsible for more than half of it." He claimed.

"Am I?"

"What friends were you staying with? Torryn informed me that you haven't been seen for about six months. You weren't with Alica nor Gwen, for once I was disappointed that you weren't with that Gealler boy." He huffed.

I sat back down in my seat and huffed, "Don't worry about it, things didn't work out so I'm here now. Under your thumb that you can watch my every move, what you wanted right?" I muttered.

"Actually...you're free to do whatever the hell you want. Like I said, I'm helping out a friend to make sure his family is taken care of. I can't speak for your mother but as long as I know you're not hurt that's my only concern." He chided as he wiped his mouth.

Turning away from him, I stood up to storm out of the kitchen but his arm had quickly snaked around my waist and he held me in place while I struggled. Marlon tried shushing me and I wasn't a child that he could train. I stood there out of breath while he pulled me closer.

"That doesn't mean that I'm uncaring as you're making me to be, I'm giving you everything that you lost. Your father didn't ask me to do that but I'm doing it because I think that the woman I love deserve it; even if we're not together anymore." He explained.

If I had an retort, I could blame him but I couldn't when we ended on my terms.

"I do still love you, but I will not let you be my downfall or the death of me."

"I don't have anyone else..." I murmured.

It has been becoming true everyday, I was alone in this world with no skill and nothing to call my own. I couldn't blame anyone but myself, my parents would've supported me in business endevors that I'd set my heart on. But I got too comfortable in the money that was handed to me, that turned out didn't even belong to us.

"You have me, treasure." He cooed.

"Do I?"