The Shift
935 Words
CHAPTER 5
Richard's POV
I could not stop thinking about the look on Grace's face when my mother slapped her.
The shock. The pain. The way she had still stood her ground even though I could see her hands shaking.
For two years, I had barely noticed her. She was just... there. A presence in my house that I had learned to ignore. The wife I never wanted but had to accept because of business.
But today, when I saw my mother's handprint on her cheek, something inside me snapped.
Grace was my responsibility. Whether I wanted her to be or not.
I sat in my office, trying to focus on work, but my mind kept drifting back to her. The way she had looked at me when I defended her. Like she could not believe it was really happening.
Had I really been that terrible to her?
I knew the answer. Yes. I had been worse than terrible. I had been invisible.
My phone rang. Victoria.
"Hey," I answered.
"Don't hey me, Richard. What happened? Your mother called me and said you kicked her out of the room because of Grace?"
I sighed. "She hit her, Victoria."
"So? Maybe Grace deserved it."
"No one deserves to be hit."
"Oh please. You're defending her now? Since when do you care about Grace?"
"She's my wife."
Victoria was quiet for a moment. "Are you forgetting that you're divorcing her? That we're getting married?"
"I haven't forgotten."
"Then why are you acting like this? Three weeks ago you were ready to end this marriage. Now you're defending her against your own mother?"
"It's complicated."
"No, it's not. You love me. You've always loved me. Grace is just a contract you had to sign. Remember?"
I rubbed my temples. "I know."
"Then act like it. Stop playing house with her and end this ridiculous three month agreement. We've waited long enough, Richard."
"I gave her my word."
"Your word? To a woman you don't even love?"
"Victoria..."
"No. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of watching you pretend to care about someone who means nothing to you."
"She doesn't mean nothing."
The words came out before I could stop them. Silence on the other end.
"What did you just say?" Victoria's voice was ice cold.
"I meant... she's been in my life for two years. She's not nothing."
"But she's not me."
"No. She's not you."
"Good. Then remember that. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch."
She hung up before I could respond.
I set my phone down and stared at the wall. What was I doing? Why had I defended Grace so strongly? Why did it bother me so much that my mother had hurt her?
I had loved Victoria for five years. Before I met Grace, before the marriage, before everything. Victoria was supposed to be my future.
So why did Grace's face keep appearing in my mind?
I went home earlier than usual that night. I found Grace in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
"You don't have to cook every night," I said.
She looked up, surprised to see me. "I don't mind. I like cooking."
"Still. You're not a servant."
"I know. But it makes me feel useful."
I watched her move around the kitchen. She was graceful, efficient. She had been making me meals for two years, and I had never once thanked her properly.
"Grace."
"Yes?"
"About what happened today with my mother..."
"It's okay. You don't have to..."
"I'm sorry." I cut her off. "I'm sorry for everything. For the way they've treated you. For the way I've treated you."
She stopped stirring the pot and turned to face me. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I should have done it a long time ago."
She looked down. "You don't have to be nice to me because of the agreement, Richard. I know you don't want to be here."
"What if I told you I'm trying to want to be here?"
Her eyes met mine. "I'd say you don't have to try. We both know how this ends."
"In three months."
"Yes."
"A lot can change in three months."
"Not enough to make you love me instead of Victoria."
She said it so calmly, like it was a fact she had accepted a long time ago.
And maybe it was.
But it bothered me. It bothered me that she had given up on being seen. On being loved.
"Have dinner with me," I said. "Not here. Let's go out."
She blinked. "Out? Like... to a restaurant?"
"Yes. Tomorrow night. Just you and me."
"Why?"
"Because we've been married for two years and I've never taken you on a date. That seems wrong."
"Richard, you don't..."
"I want to. Please."
She looked at me like she was trying to figure out if I was serious. "Okay," she said finally. "Tomorrow night."
I nodded. "Good. Wear something nice."
That night, lying in my bed alone like I had for two years, I thought about Grace. Really thought about her for the first time.
She was beautiful. I had always known that, but I had never let myself actually look at her. Her soft brown eyes, her gentle smile, the way she moved through the house like she was trying not to take up too much space.
She deserved better than me. Better than this marriage. Better than everything I had put her through.
But for three months, I was going to try to give her something good. Something real.
Even if I did not understand why it suddenly mattered so much.
- Writer
