Chapter Six- For Richer, or for Poorer
Alice buried her face in her hands. Caleb had looked so hurt when she told him she didn’t know who she was meant to be with. He looked like he was trying really hard. Alice just wasn’t sure about him. He didn’t look at her softly. His eyes were guarded as though he was hiding something.
Alice rolled on to her side and wrapped her arms around a pillow. She lifted her head and pulled it close to her. Turning it vertically she lay her head down and hugged it tightly as more tears blurred her vision. The crying young woman closed her eyes tight and thought back to the conversation she had minutes ago.
“I’ll find a way. You’re meant to be with me. Not him...”
“I don’t know who i’m meant to be with anymore.”
Caleb looked torn between disappointment and anger.
“I..have to be with you.” he pleaded.
Alice looked into the hard hazel eyes of her ex boyfriend. Why was he so desperate to get her back all of a sudden? Not long ago he had been throwing rocks at her. Not long ago he had called her a liar. Alice couldn’t help but wonder what it was that changed his mind...
“Alice?” Caleb ventured.
The woman’s lime green eyes snapped to the man across the room.
“We can’t talk now.” she whispered finally. “Come back tomorrow.”
Alice stopped remembering and smacked her own forehead fiercely. Why did she have to drag it out? She knew she was only making it harder for herself. Alice knew she should have just let him go. There wasn’t a way out. That contract was legitimate. There had been a lot of money involved. It was too late to back out now. A hundred years too late.
* * * *
“Morning!” Alice said brightly, in the hopes of starting the day nicely.
“Morning?” Jason said raising an eyebrow at the cheerful woman entering the lounge room.
Alice ignored her husband’s quizzical look and placed a two mugs of coffee on the table, before slumping down into the black leather couch, opposite the matching arm chair Jason was sitting on.
Jason put down the newspaper he was reading and smiled uncertainly at his wife.
Alice picked up her coffee and took a sip. She watched the dark haired man across from her, pick up his newspaper and continue to read it.
Alice snorted playfully at her husband. His chestnut eyes flicked up to meet her lime ones and he lowered his paper.
“Something funny?” he said, not unkindly.
Alice grinned happily.
“I just never took you for the type of guy that would read a newspaper!”
Jason looked offended.
“I like to catch up on current events!” he stated defensively, though a small smile was slowly spreading across his face.
Alice sniggered at him.
“Really?” she teased in the type of voice people use to address toddlers.
“Yes!” he said innocently.
Alice raised her eyebrows at him.
“I was reading the comics...” Jason confessed slowly.
Alice let out a light tinkling laugh.
“The comics aren’t even funny!” she giggled.
“Sometimes they are!”
Something about Jason’s adorable, determination to defend himself, sent Alice into a fit of silent hysterics.
Jason looked puzzled for a few moments before he too cracked a grin and chuckled a deep husky laugh.
The two laughed joyfully for a good several minutes.
“Drink your coffee!” Alice finally managed to order, between laughs.
Cheerfully, Jason reached for his own cup of coffee. Alice watched him tentatively take a sip. The man smiled and gave his wife a comical ‘thumbs up’, to signal the coffee wasn’t completely indigestible.
Alice smiled to herself. Clearly, the couple, both enjoyed pretending things were normal between them. Both secretly knew that what they had going on was a weird mix between friendship, marriage and despise.
“Sooooo....” Jason said tapping the side of his mug.
“Mmmmmm....?”
Jason looked as though he wanted the two to stay as happy as they were with each other, but didn’t know how to continue the conversation without making things unpleasant.
“Ummmm” he continued hopelessly. “Tell me about yourself!”
Alice rolled her eyes at him.
“Really?” she said. “That’s the best you could come up with?”
Jason blinked his deep chocolate eyes at her.
“I was hoping you would jump in...”
“I used to have brown hair...” she offered.
“Really?!” Jason almost shouted in surprise.
“NO!” Alice laughed.
Jason slumped back into his chair.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.” he huffed.
“I’m sorry.” Alice batted her eyelashes innocently and took another sip of her coffee, her gaze not leaving Jason for even a second.
“I forgive you.” he said shortly.
Alice grinned.
“Do you... like it here?” he ventured.
Alice considered his hopeful expression.
“Yes.” she said simply, but felt obligated to add, “Well... i mean it’s alright.”
Jason’s face fell ever so slightly.
“Sorry about all this..” he said seriously, referring to their arranged marriage. “This is my families fault.”
“No!” Alice put her coffee down on the table. “My family is just as much to blame!”
Jason also put his coffee down.
“Well” he began. “You may be right. But i’m gonna make it up to you, anyway”
Alice bit her lip and smiled curiously.
“How?” she asked, genuinely intrigued.
Jason flashed a cute, cheesy grin.
“Well...” he said shyly. “I was thinking.. Since we never had an after-party, at our..... wedding. We could have a party here. People can get used to the idea of us being a..... married.... couple.”
Jason desperately fought back a blush as he waited for his wife’s response.
“By people do you mean your mother?” she queried, considering the offer.
Jason froze for a second as Alice picked up her mug.
“Yes and no....” he trailed off sadly. Clearly he expected Alice to say no.
“Sounds fun!” she declared before taking a large gulp of her coffee.
“Great!” he practically shouted. “I’ve invited everyone to come tonight!”
Jason’s announcement was met with a huge spray of coffee in his face.
Alice wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her dressing gown. Her lemongrass eyes widened as they met a pair of mahogany orbs.
Jason wiped the coffee from his face on to his shirt and gave Alice a blank look.
“I’m so Sorry!”
But Alice couldn’t help but laugh. And after several seconds, neither could Jason.