First Morning
1027 Words
CHAPTER 2
I woke up earlier than usual. The sky outside was still dark, but I could not sleep anymore. Today was the first day of our agreement. The first day Richard would actually acknowledge me as his wife.
I got dressed carefully. Nothing too fancy, just a simple cream colored dress that Emmanuel's wife, Sarah, had given me last year. She had always been kind to me, even though Emmanuel had passed away six months after my wedding. She was the only person who still checked on me.
I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and I had put on a little makeup. Not too much. I did not want Richard to think I was trying too hard.
But I wanted to look nice. Just once.
I went downstairs to the kitchen. The house was quiet. Richard's mother, Patricia, and his two sisters, Judith and Annabel, lived in the west wing of the estate. They usually did not wake up until late morning. Which was fine by me. The less I saw of them, the better.
They had made it very clear from day one that I did not belong in their family.
I started making breakfast. Scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and coffee. Simple but nice. I set the table in the small dining room, the one Richard sometimes used when he ate alone. The main dining hall was too big, too formal. I wanted this to feel... normal.
At exactly seven thirty, I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Richard walked into the dining room wearing a dark blue suit. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower. He stopped when he saw the table.
"You made breakfast," he said.
"Yes. I hope you're hungry."
He looked at me for a moment, then sat down. I poured him coffee and set the cup in front of him.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
I sat across from him and picked up my fork. My heart was beating so fast I thought he might hear it. This was the first time in months that we had eaten together. The first time he had said thank you for anything I had done.
We ate in silence for a few minutes. I wanted to say something, anything, but my mind was blank.
"How did you sleep?" I asked finally.
He looked up. "Fine. You?"
"Good."
More silence.
This was harder than I thought it would be. We were strangers. Two people who lived in the same house but knew nothing about each other.
"Your meeting this morning," I said, trying again. "Is it about the new software launch?"
He raised an eyebrow. "How do you know about that?"
"I read the business section of the newspaper. Your company was mentioned."
"I didn't know you followed business news."
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Richard."
The words came out sharper than I intended. He set down his fork and looked at me carefully.
"You're right," he said. "I don't know much about you."
"You never asked."
"Neither did you."
He had a point. But how could I ask him anything when he barely looked at me? When he spent every evening with Victoria and came home only to sleep?
"What do you want to know?" I asked.
He leaned back in his chair. "Why did you agree to marry me?"
I had not expected that question. "You know why. Emmanuel arranged it. My father's debts..."
"That's why Emmanuel wanted it. I'm asking why you agreed."
I put down my fork. "Because I had no choice."
"Everyone has a choice, Grace."
"Not when you're drowning," I said quietly. "Not when you're alone and scared and the only person who cares about you tells you this is the only way."
Richard's expression softened, just a little. "Did you want to say no?"
"Yes," I admitted. "But I didn't. Because I trusted Emmanuel. He said you were a good man. He said you would take care of me."
"And I have. You have everything you need."
I looked around the beautiful dining room, at the expensive furniture and the crystal glasses. "Everything except a husband."
He did not have an answer for that.
"I should go," he said, standing up. "I have that meeting."
I nodded. "Drive safely."
He grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door, but then he stopped and turned back.
"Grace."
"Yes?"
"The breakfast was good. Thank you."
Before I could respond, he was gone.
I sat there alone, staring at the empty chair across from me. It was not much…Just a simple thank you. But it was more than I had gotten in two years.
Maybe this would not be so bad after all.
I started clearing the table when my phone rang. It was Rachel, my best friend.
"Tell me you didn't actually ask him for three months," she said the moment I answered.
"Good morning to you too, Rachel."
"Grace, I'm serious. Please tell me you came to your senses."
"I asked him. He said yes."
She groaned. "You're insane. You know that, right?"
"Maybe."
"What are you hoping to get out of this? He's in love with Victoria. He's been in love with her since before you even met him. Three months won't change that."
"I know."
"Then why?"
I looked down at my stomach, pressing my hand against it gently. Rachel did not know. Nobody knew.
"I just need this time, Rachel. Please trust me."
She sighed. "Fine. But when this blows up in your face, don't say I didn't warn you."
"I won't."
After we hung up, I finished cleaning up and went back to my room. I had three months. Ninety days to somehow make Richard see me as more than just an obligation.
And if I was lucky, ninety days to give myself the one thing I wanted more than anything.
A child.
But that meant Richard would have to... I could not even finish the thought. My cheeks burned just thinking about it.
"One step at a time, Grace," I whispered to myself.
One step at a time.
- Writer
