In This Love

Chapter 2

I looked out of the window and saw the morning rays covering me like a blanket making a sharpened shadow behind me. I saw our gardener grooming the small orchid of roses and tulips.

I, myself liked gardening but I never got a chance to fully give my attention to the plants. Due to my hectic studies. But now my semester break started in a week and after three months we'll have our month of further classes, then finals to graduation.

Today was special. For two reasons but for only one of them I was actually looking forward to.

  Ashley and I weren't the only children, our parents had. We had a brother.

Well - step brother to me with a brotherly love.

  Ridge Stark.

  He was a soldier in the US army. He was my Captain America. The hope he came in my life with. And not only that but he was the only one in our small family of five, in which others were too busy in their lives; he was the one who actually gave me the love I thought I deserved. Ridge was always there for me and Ashley.

  He was a couple years older than us and rarely came home because of his duties. Dad wanted Ridge to go for his business but Ridge wanted to serve his country.

So today Ridge was coming home.

  Secondly, the Holt family was coming to our house. So naturally, mother wanted everything to be perfect because "first impressions matter" and we wanted - them not me - to show the Holts that we are their equal.

  Both the parties thought it was better if the "future couple" should meet each other to know where both of them lay in each others eyes.

  My heart broke on the inside when I realised that Rhys Holt didn't reject me. A normal girl would have been devastated if a guy like Rhys Holt rejected them. In my case I would be jumping with happiness - not literally because of my condition - I would have felt that way.

  There was a knock on my door and I mumbled a permission. The door flung open and revealed a gleaming Sarah.

  Oh did I forget to mention? No, my life isn't spent in isolation and dread of what it has turned into or is turning into. Another piece of my life;  apart of the family drama, studies and Ashley's constant infamous scandals. Another person is a part of it. Sarah Parker.

We have been besties since high school.

  There is nothing much for you to know about Sarah. Because that girl still seems like a mystery to me.

  I was the outdoor freak and she was a queen of her own Kingdom.

  I looked at the bags she held in her hand and scratched my forearm and tired to hush a groan. But failed because I knew I made a face that is responsible for her reaction.

  "Oh come on Avery! I know your life is going extremely downhill but it doesn't mean that you have to look like a hobo while you go through your "trial marrige" " I rolled my eyes at her, according to Sarah this one-year marrige is an opportunity for me to know of I would want to settle with someone in future also "a year with the hottest man in GQ" would be amazing.  Maybe Rhys Holt wasn't as bad as the tabloids mortared him to be. Her words not mine. Because me on the other hand didn't want to think if things would actually turn out to be good.

  "Mom sent you. Didn't she?" I changed the topic and luckily she bought it.

  Sarah was a wizard when it came to makeup and styling. Mom knew her talent so she mostly asked her to get me prepared. From homecoming to prom. Every single event.

  "Yup. Mrs Stark personally invited  me to come here for dinner with your future in laws...and your brother. By the way when is Ridge coming?" She put the things down on my bed and walked towards me

  "Mom told me that his plane will land in two hours an hour ago" I told her with excitement clear in my voice.

  "Are you happy?" She asked like she hinted on the two events that were about to happen today.

  "Of course I am. My brother is coming home. So - I'm happy" I completely turned the topic towards Ridge and his arrival.

  "Avery. You know what I meant to say. Are you happy?" She asked again rephrasing her statement.

  Was I happy? In the past years I have forgotten the meaning of the word "happy". Is it the feeling everytime I'm with my loved ones? Or is it the calm state in general? Or was it both?

  The real question - Sarah wants to ask - is that am I happy with this wedding situation.

In that case. Then, NO.

  "I'm not? I just think that this experiment is going to turn into some deep s**t. And our lives aren't something to be meddled with like that. I would have said no but this is the first time dad has every actually asked me to do something for him. So that's why I am doing this." I ran my hands through my hair this time out of frustration.

  Sarah's face told me that she was about to turn on me and scold me for being so negative about all of this. But I couldn't help it.

I mentally thanked God when we were interrupted by a knock on my bedroom door.

  Sarah looked at me - dead in the eye - with determination on her face "We are going to have a talk about your negativity. You just wait" she walked towards the door and opened it.

  Mom was standing with a happy look on her face. It was either her business was flourishing or I was getting married today.

"Ridge is here!" She practically yelled at us.

  Oh,I assumed wrong, she is not that selfish after all.

  An old happy emotion that I haven't experienced in a while bubbled inside of me. I squealed out of utter joy. I quickly grabbed my cane and rushed out of the room as fast as I could.

  Since it was hard for me to use the stairs. I was grateful that mom and dad has specially made a plane ramp for me to walk down from. So I brisk walked down to the main living room of our banglow.

  I looked around but only found a duffle bag and some luggage in the corner of the room. Mom and Sarah were walking down the stairs when I turned around to look at them with confusion.

"Where is Ridge?" I asked mom. She laughed nervously and said

"He's in your dad's home office. They wanted to talk"

Her answer only ignited my curiosity. The uneasiness in her voice made me stone sure that something was up.

"But he just came home. Can't dad wait for a few hours before he starts bossing around everybody in this house?!" I frantically started to march towards Mr. Stark's home office.

  Mom called me out from behind. I felt her quickly running towards me. I looked to my left after I realised that she was walking next to me now.

  "You don't have to go in there. They might be talking on an important matter that is clearly none of your concern, Avery" she tried to reason with me but I couldn't stop. My answer to her banter was only a grunt from me.

   "I know what they are talking about" I slowed down when I reached dad's office "It's about the great wedding isn't it?" I stared into her eyes before saying "Isn't it?"

  I was about to open the doors but stopped when I heard Ridge yelling at dad "Why do you have to make her life so hard?! Her life is already hard Dad! How can you be so selfish about this?! She is your daughter! She may not be by blood but she is still raised to be one! Why can't you use Ashley as a key in your success? She would happily say yes to that arrogant Rhys Holt! Why so greedy Mason?! Tell me!" Mother and I both gasped when Ridge addressed our dad by his first name.

That is when I decided to step in. I couldn't let Ridge destroy his respect that he has in dad's eyes. I couldn't.

I had to make him believe that this was my decision. They wanted me to do something for them and I didn't want to let them down. That's all.

I pushed the doors open and found Dad and Ridge standing just a foot away from each other. Mason Stark had his head hung low in defeat at his only son acussed him.

Ridge looked so angry at the moment. His face was completely red, his eyes were so wide. It was a habit of his to mess up his hair every minute when he was stressed.

I couldn't let this family break because I appeared to be unhappy to them.

But Ridge knew me too well. He would know that I'm lying  when I will try to make him believe that I was satisfied with their desicion.

He also knew I was selfless. Unlike his parents and sister.

"Ridge stop!" I glared at him while walking towards him. Mom was still behind me - she walked towards Dad - and Sarah stood in the doorway with surprise on her face.

"I know how you are feeling. I know it's shocking to hear that I am getting married to Rhys Holt. I know that you know Mom and Dad want this to happen. But I also know - when I tell you that I am fine with it - you'll believe me. I'm so happy that you came back to us after 10 months. And I do not - I repeat do not - want this little time we have go to waste. Okay?" I looped my arm around his neck and hugged him tightly. I felt his relax and I too sighed in relief that he bought it. I pulled away and looked at Dad.

"I don't want you guys to fight like this" I reached to grab Dad's hand, with the other one holing Ridge's.  I brought both of their hand and clasped them into each other "Please, I have accepted this. It's just for one year Ridge" I looked at Ridge and then back at Dad "I hope that your business gets its shine you are working so hard for Dad. But please don't fight like it" I said as I hinted at him. If he was clever enough then he'll be able to read between the lines.

When I looked at Ridge, I knew what I meant to say. There was a small smirk on his face.

"There are some very important people coming over for dinner. It's better if all of us start getting ready" Mom said from behind.

For some reason, my great couldn't help but feel anxious and scared. Maybe it was the anger that I felt on the inside or the frustration of hoping that things would end before they even started. The truth was, no matter how much I told myself that I was ready, in reality. I was scared for my life.

I was doubting myself and I absolutely hated it, one thing that I hated about myself was self doubt.

These knots in my throat, that make it hard to breathe as seconds pass, was something that led me to a klutz of emotions.

Everything thing happens for a reason.

That's what I kept telling myself, assuming that this has to be my fate.

But what if that this fate was something that would bring me nothing but pain? As far as I have come now, it still seems so uncertain. Maybe this uncertainty might lead to discomfort that I can't get out of.