The Reckless Marriage

Chapter 2: The Lash Out!

I saw Mr Jones smoking a cigarette, looking super beat. The dense white smoke that came out of the cigarette filled the air along with its obnoxious burning smell.

Cigarettes were something I vowed to never use ever in my life. Those things are pretty harmful.

My biological dad would smoke a lot whenever he was stressed out with work, life and even family. Being a little girl at that time, I would constantly order him to stop his habit but he would always brush it off and bribe me with toys.

But whenever mom pitched in and caught him, the cigarette would fall out of his hands onto the floor. He was very afraid of my mom. I used to laugh myself off whenever I would witness that scene. This memory made me miss them quite dearly! Nothing was the same at all without them and I was sure it was going to remain that way for the rest of my life.

Coming back to Mr Jones, I never quite saw him like this before. 

I gave a knock on the door to which he asked me to come in, in a faint voice. I looked a bit confused but walked myself in, worrying about what was about to happen!

The cabin looked depressed, with darkness covering it with a lonesome light bulb struggling to illuminate the tiny radius of the ceiling. I had no idea how he could work in such miserable conditions! I definitely would not!

I went ahead and grabbed one of the white coloured plastic chairs that were stacked upon each other in a dark dusty corner.

I placed the chair in front of Mr Jones’ wooden desk and sat myself down in front of him with a curious look painted on my face.

He took his cigarette out of his mouth and disposed of it in the ashtray near him.

I could barely breathe in the smoke infested air! It felt as if someone were choking me at that moment but I composed myself and asked him the questions I needed to ask.

“Any update on the accident, Mr Jones?”  I asked, hoping for some sort of a positive response from his lips.

As soon as I asked that question, he looked at me straight in the eyes with concern. He lowered his head on the table while leaning on his revolving chair. 

“I’m sorry Avery, but I really could not find any lead!” he explained.

My heart squeezed as he mentioned that horrifying statement! This could not be! Not again! Why did this keep happening to me?!

I lowered my eyes as I was feeling defeated! For all these years, no lead was ever found and it continued to remain the same, no matter how much money I would shell out of my own pockets.

“Avery, it has been years, I’m old and I might even retire soon! Don’t you want to stop this investigation and save your money? It would be good for you instead of coming back here agin and again for bad news!” he suggested.

I looked at him with a shocked and disappointed face. How could he even say that? I spent years on this investigation for a reason! So what if I still did not get any progress? Try, try till you succeed is what I made revolve around my life! And so, I was not going to give up so easily.

I shook my head in disagreement and said, “No, I will continue this investigation, no matter what and yes, I will continue to pay you! I will never give up!” 

Upon hearing this, Mr Jones got up from his seat and while standing with his hand on his desk, told me, “Well, if you don’t want to give up then I won’t too! Your parents would be so proud of you Avery! Remember that!” 

I nodded in agreement and let out a sight of relief as earlier tension and stress was building up inside of me. But Mr Jones's attitude and words made me feel a lot better!

As he left the cabin, I got up and started to remember my mother’s words to never give up! Those words made me who I am today! Its what made me survive through Katie’s harsh words! And I would never give up ever. 

I took a deep breath and walked out of the station with confidence, waiting for good news someday.

As I was walking towards the road, a newspaper flew with the cold wind and landed on my face. I yanked the paper from my face and saw a handsome face on the front page.

”Billionaire Grayson Wright: Single or Taken?” was the headlines over the guy’s face.

I rolled my eyes upon seeing such a headline. So many important things were occurring in the world and the media cares about a billionaire’s love life?!

I took a taxi back home and that time, the darkness that draped the road earlier thickened and the buildings of the area tried to illuminate the street but it clearly wasn’t enough.

After a few minutes, the taxi finally dropped me at my gate. We lived in a tiny bungalow but I was grateful that our backyard was a bit bigger.

Before ringing the bell, I took some time to look over the beautiful flowers I had planted and grown for some time.

They grew beautifully and the colours were vibrant! They always managed to put a smile on my face and today was no exception.

I rang my doorbell in a good mood and awaited for Katie or Frank to open the door.

I heard rapid footsteps coming towards the door and the door lock suddenly clicked. 

As the door opened wide, I saw an angry Katie looking at me with glaring eyes.

“You i***t! Where did you wander off to?” she asked furiously!

I was taken aback by her rude behaviour! 

I straight away realised that I wasn’t supposed to ring the doorbell! I had to sneak inside through the back window! But I was so distracted that I forgot to do so.

If I could I would’ve back answered her straight away but I couldn’t! I couldn’t bring myself to do such a thing.

I looked at Katie straight in the eye and told her the truth. I knew the truth would infuriate her but lying would make things worse as I did not know how to lie properly at all. 

“You worthless girl! You know how much money you are blowing away on that stupid investigation?” she rebuked me.

I looked at her in shock, remembering the times she would blow away money on nail and hair treatments. They cost her a lot and frankly, they didn’t make her look any better. 

She still looked like the grumpy old Karen she was! And she dared to question where I was spending my own hard-earned money?

“Katie, it's my money! Not yours!” I mustered the courage to say that.

“You dare back answer me?” she said while raising her hand and slapping me across my cheek with her hand that had a golden ring on it.

It stung me pretty badly but I managed to hold in my anger. If I wasn’t so nice or dependent on Katie for shelter, I would’ve thrown all hands on her.

“Come inside! You’re late to prepare dinner as well!” she added while pulling me inside the house.

As I was walking towards the kitchen to prepare that hag her dinner, I saw dad standing in front of me with a hint of sadness on his face. 

“You don’t deserve this Avery! I’m so sorry!” he said while lowering his eyebrows.

I held his hand and told him that he did not need to apologise for anything. But he still insisted.

Sometimes I wonder how did a sweet guy like Frank end with someone as bitter and cruel as Katie? The universe works in such a strange way. 

I walked into the kitchen and started preparing the stew for dinner. Dad assisted me while Katie was sitting on the couch while flipping through some channels on the television set that she bought with the hard-earned money that dad and I got.

I felt as if Katie was a leech that was sucking the energy and money out of dad and me! 

If only dad could divorce Katie! 

I mean it's not like he didn’t try! The poor guy had the courage before to bring up the topic with her but she would always emotionally manipulate him and get her way out of it.

Anyways, after preparing dinner, all three of us sat on the dining table and licked our bowls clean. Katie had a double serving by the way.

After cleaning up the dishes, I switched the lights of the house and ensured the doors were locked properly before heading off to bed.

The next morning, I was awakened with a start to Katie’s voice screaming at me! 

Oh, what she could possibly want this time?