MIO FIORE

HIS PLAN

I was just having the worst luck and things just weren't getting better.

I went to the police station at eight this morning. Their call yesterday was just a courtesy call to say that they hadn't found out who had robbed me, and stolen my car and that they would keep in touch.

They were also surprised that someone would want such an old car and spent an hour interrogating me about whether I had any valuables in there. They even dared to ask me if I was a drug dealer.

Whilst I was walking home it rained on me. I didn't have a car and I didn't see the point in ordering a taxi for four kilometers. I thought it would be a good source of exercise and since the weather app said it wasn't raining, I wanted to get in some exercise.

But boy was it wrong.

I inserted the spare keys into my house door, opening it to hear voices. I already knew it was my parents, I had seen their car drive past me two kilometers ago.

Give me a f*****g break!

"Well, you need to pack." I heard my mother's voice.

Pack? For what?

I was going to walk straight to my room but of course, my mum spotted me and called for me to join them in the lounge room.

"What's happening?" I asked as I walked towards them. Aiden was sitting on the couch, my Father opposite him in the recliner and my mother standing up, hovering. Her eyes narrowed at me.

“What's this that you didn't pack?" she asked, throwing her hands on her hips. A look that always scared me as a child and to be honest it still sent a shiver through my body.

“Pack for what?" I asked confused.

“The cruise. Aren't you and Aiden still going, it's Saturday and why are you all wet?"

“I got wet in the rain and no we aren't going on the cruise. Didn't Aiden tell you that he decided he didn't want to go on that cruise?" I said, giving Aiden a pointed look.

Aiden leaned back on the couch, his grey eye running over me and his smile widened.

“That's right. I forgot to mention it." He said and I nodded.

“I booked a different one. That cruise didn't have half the things Krystal and I could do to bond. This one is much bigger and better." he winked at me. I could poke his eyes out.

He knew how much work I had to do, with everything that was going on would it kill him to just forget about this dumb cruise.

"Done. What time does it depart?" My father asked.

“Well technically it's an hour drive to get there and we have to check in so really we should have left half an hour ago, but I can call them up and tell them we are stuck in traffic, if Krystal and quickly go pack." Aiden reached for his phone.

I realized this was a battle I couldn't win. Maybe at least on the cruise, he would just leave me alone and I could get lots of work done.

“Well, you heard him, Krystal. Go pack and dad and I will give you a ride there."

“Yes, mum," I muttered heading up the stairs.

**

I didn't even have time to change, I was mostly dry now so I quickly threw on a big bucket in case it decided to bucket down again. I wasn't even sure where this cruise was going and what to pack. I mainly planned to stay indoors and work so I packed a bunch of random things I could grab. On the car ride there, Aiden sat next to me, his knee bouncing up and down which was starting to annoy me.

I tried ignoring and focused on messaging everyone that I would be working offline. I also sent out an extensively long email with all the due dates for work tasks and that I expected to be completed.

I sent Joe another separate email that contained a nicer shade of yellow paint. I had already ordered it on the way there and I sent him the tracking number. Sometimes I left too much trust in Joe. Perhaps it was because he was slightly colorblind, something only one in five men get.

I wonder if Aiden was color blind?

"We're here." my mum called out and I looked up. We had come to the Docklands pier and sure enough, there was a big boat waiting at the pier.

I sighed, “I hope there is a reception on the boat." I said as I got out.

Aiden, acting as the perfect husband in front of my parents, grabbed both our bag, as well as my laptop bag. Effortlessly carrying it towards the awaiting crew members.

My parents said goodbye which was no more than five words. We were never the affectionate family. Maybe that's why I turned out this way, too awkward and uncomfortable to exercise any form of affection.

“Walk faster," Aiden said looking over his shoulder, once my parents were out of hearing distance.

I kept to my pace, I wasn't going to rush for a cruise I didn't want to be part of. I couldn't believe it, yet again Aiden found a way to get what he wanted. The staff showed us to our room, a spacious suite and I was already dreading the big bill it would leave in my credit card.