An ordinary evening
852 Words
Rain began falling just after sunset.
Maple stood by the window in her bedroom, watching the droplets slide slowly down the glass.
The sky outside was dark, and the steady sound of rain filled the quietness of the mansion.
There was something different about rainy evenings.
The entire house seemed quieter than usual.
Maple had spent most of the day reading and organizing her mother’s belongings. She had also continued unpacking the clothes she had brought from her father’s house.
For the first time since she arrived, she felt like she was beginning to settle in.
Her life was slowly finding a routine.
A strange one.
But a routine nonetheless.
She had breakfast.
She arranged her things.
She read when she had nothing else to do.
And Devon went to work and came home whenever he was done.
They barely spoke, but somehow, she was beginning to get used to it.
A knock on the door pulled her away from the window.
Maple turned.
“Come in.”
One of the staff members opened the door.
“Ma’am, dinner will be ready by eight.”
Maple nodded.
“Okay. Thank you.”
The staff member smiled politely before leaving and closing the door behind her.
Maple glanced at the clock.
It was almost time.
She picked up her phone from the bed and headed downstairs.
When she entered the dining room, Devon was already seated at the table.
He was dressed in a dark shirt, his sleeves neatly rolled to his elbows.
He looked up when she walked in.
“Good evening.”
“Good evening.”
Maple took her usual seat.
The maids began serving their meals, placing different dishes in front of them before quietly leaving.
The sound of the rain could still be heard faintly through the windows.
Maple picked up her fork.
They ate in silence.
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
But it wasn’t friendly either.
It was simply their usual.
She occasionally glanced at Devon, but he seemed more interested in his food.
There was something oddly predictable about their evenings now.
He came home.
They had dinner.
They exchanged a few words.
And then they went their separate ways.
Maple wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.
Part of her wanted them to become more comfortable around each other.
She wanted to be able to talk to him without wondering whether she was disturbing him.
But another part of her was perfectly happy with the distance.
At least there were no arguments.
No unnecessary questions.
No expectations.
She finished eating before Devon and placed her fork down.
“I’m done.”
He looked up briefly.
“Okay.”
Maple stood.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
She left the dining room and headed upstairs.
After freshening up, she changed into something comfortable and climbed into bed with a book.
She opened it and began reading.
Or at least, she tried to.
Her eyes moved across the pages, but her mind kept wandering.
She had no idea what her life was supposed to look like anymore.
A few weeks ago, she had been worried about getting a job after graduation.
Now she was married.
She turned another page.
Part of her wanted things to change.
She wanted to know Devon better.
She wanted this strange marriage to become something less awkward.
But another part of her didn’t want anything to change at all.
Maybe she was comfortable with the routine.
Maybe she was afraid of what would happen if they became too close.
Maple sighed and closed the book for a moment.
Her thoughts were cut short when the bedroom door opened.
She looked up.
Devon walked in.
His face looked tired, and there was a slight heaviness in his eyes that hadn’t been there earlier.
Yet somehow, he still carried that same air of authority around him.
Even when he looked exhausted, he still looked like someone people would think twice before crossing.
Their eyes met for a second.
“How was work?” Maple asked.
“Busy.”
Just one word.
Before she could say anything else, he walked into the bathroom.
Maple stared at the closed door for a moment before shaking her head.
Of course.
Busy.
That was Devon’s favorite answer.
She picked up her book again and continued reading.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
Devon stepped out looking much better.
His hair was slightly damp, and the tiredness on his face wasn’t as obvious anymore.
He glanced toward the bed.
Maple’s face was buried in her book.
“You know you don’t have to wait for me,” he said.
Maple looked up.
“I wasn’t.”
Devon raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I was reading.”
“I know.”
She stared at him for a moment before turning around, deliberately giving him her back.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
The room became quiet again.
Maple placed her book on the bedside table and pulled the covers over herself.
A few minutes later, she heard Devon settle into bed on the other side.
Neither of them spoke again.
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