THE BILLIONAIRE'S CINDERELLA WIFE

Episode 5

EPISODE 5

“Dad!!” Instead of ringing the gate bell I yell out at the top of my lungs after spotting my father moving around not far from the gate. I feel a sense of pride and giddiness whenever I see him in his blue overalls. I have a lot of respect for him because he is the most humble and hard working man I have ever known, he is the actual opposite of his wife, I guess opposites do attract. After the gate slides open I run to meet him half way and he scoops me up in his arms and swings me around as if I’m still his little girl. He did once mention to me that he will always see me as his little girl, well that sounds sweet as long as he won’t dare to treat me like a little girl. “Hey there princess, how are you doing?” “I’m alright dad and you?” I ask, observing his sun kissed face and the sweat beaded on his forehead. Although I admire how hard working my father is, it kind of breaks my heart to see how hard he has to work and yet the money he makes is still not enough to give his family a soft life of ease and convenience. “I’m sorry for coming late dad...if I had gotten here on time I would have helped you to finish up so you wouldn’t have to come back here again tomorrow,” I ruefully utter with an apologetic expression on my face. “Oh please don’t apologize princess...this is my job after all and it makes me feel like a very bad father to have you here helping me every time. It is not fair to you...it’s robbing you of a chance to be out enjoying your youth days,” there is a deep look of worry, regret and disappointment inkling in his eyes as he mutters.

He wouldn’t be a good or caring man if that didn’t bother him but I do not want him to worry about me, I don’t mind making sacrifices for my family, there isn’t anything more important than family because everything else in life is just vanity. “Dad how many times must I tell you not to worry yourself over that? I love helping you out... and you know what? Gardening is actually beginning to grow on me. Someday I will have a big house with a huge garden and I won’t have to hire anyone to maintain it for me...I will do it myself,” I wistfully say with bright dreamy eyes.

“I sure hope to live to see that day my princess,” my father chuckles as he picks up the garden scissors and continues trimming and cutting the short trees into a beautiful round shape. My eyes sweep around the Lenard’s house for a quick minute; although I have been here many times I can never get enough of admiring how beautiful their double story house is. I pick up the garden fork and make myself useful, my body can barely move, I am exhausted but I feel the need to force myself to work. It doesn’t take my father long to notice that I’m struggling, he grabs my arm and takes the fork away, I look up at him ready to protest, “don’t think I can’t see how exhausted you are...I can’t have you passing out on me,” “I’m fine...I can manage...I promise,” I unconvincingly say.

He ignores me and takes off his gloves and throws them away, “I’m calling it a day...let’s go home...and you don’t have to cook tonight I will make dinner,” he announces while casting me his million dollar smile. Boy am I glad to hear that but I’m not okay with my father cooking because he is obviously more tired than I am and why should he be busy battling with pots when he has a wife who does nothing but admire her looks in the mirror all day? Dad is as good as a man without a wife, maybe except for when it comes to the bedroom affairs.

We walk to the nearest bus stop with our hands entwined; my father’s dark eyes keep smiling at me, I know with unwavering confidence that I’m the apple of his eye and he is proud of the woman I am. It’s all thanks to him, had I been raised by my mother alone I don’t even want to imagine what kind of a person I could have become. My father has always been my role model and I never want to disappoint him but who knows; maybe one day I will fall in love with a man that he doesn’t approve of and it will change our relationship forever, I pray that won’t happen. There aren’t many people that we come across along the streets; it’s mostly cars passing by since this neighbourhood is occupied by wealthy people. It is peacefully quiet and not crowded or noisy like where we live; “hello gorgeous!” a lady coming off the bus greets my father with a naughty look on her face. I used to be offended by such acts but not anymore, the women of this town are known for throwing themselves at men but my dad isn’t just any man. He may not be wealthy but he is eye candy, his large body frame and his towering height makes him hard to ignore. “Hie!” David waves at the shameless lady who doesn’t seem to take into consideration the wedding band on his finger, he doesn’t stop to talk to her, he tightens his hand on his daughter’s wrist and ushers her inside the bus.

“I bet mom has no idea how many women find you attractive,” I whisper. My father looks at me with a warning eye, “what?” I shrug. “Why would you even say something like that?” “Because I sometimes feel like mom doesn’t....” I decide its best not to have this conversation especially not inside the bus with prying eyes and eaves droppers.

“Becca...you really need to go easy on your mother and stop attacking her every second you get,” he mutters.

I’m shocked he feels that way, it’s not like she doesn’t deserve it, well, she is still his wife I guess he has to protect her honour at all times. The bus isn’t moving fast enough for me, I’m counting minutes until I finally get home to rest and I can’t wait to see my darling little brother. He never gets tired of running my way to give me a hug every time I get home, I look forward those warm tight hugs every day.

A while later, we arrive home and the moment we enter the house we are hit by a sweet smelling aroma coming from the house, my dad and I exchange surprised glances, I’m thinking there is no way that my mother was thoughtful enough to cook, people don’t just change at least not overnight. I can’t even remember the last time I ate my mother’s cooking. “Do you think she really cooked?” David raises an eyebrow as he questions is daughter.

“There is only one way to find out,” I say as I wave him over to the way that leads to the kitchen and he eagerly follows closely. “Hey....my two favourite people,” Vivian smiles widely as Becca and her father walk in.

David walks over to give her a hug and a brush kiss on the lips, “you look beautiful...as always and you smell nice too,” he comments as he embraces her once again. “Hey mom...where is Mattie?” I ask after darting my eyes around and not finding him. “Hey to you too Becca...Uh...I think he is in the restroom,” she answers. “That explains why he didn’t run to give me a hug today,” I whisper to myself.

“So...something smells really nice, what did you cook?” David joyously asks.

“And why?” I curiously question as I help set up the table.

“What do you mean why? Aren’t you the one who is always complaining that I don’t help out” Vivian rolls her eyes. “I have been complaining for years but nothing ever changed,” I murmur. My father throws me a disapproving look that commands me to stop being a b***h and apologize to my mother. “I’m sorry...I guess I’m just surprised...well, thank you for this...that was very thoughtful and kind of you...please sit down and let me dish out,” I offer as I grab hold of her wrist before snatching the dishing spoon from her. “No...I got it but thank you,” she insists as she takes back the spoon from me. “Who are you and what on earth did you do with my mother?” I chuckle. My mother responds by laughing softly and then she begins to dish out, I stare down at the colourful and appealing meal and follow by impatiently grabbing my fork and throwing into my mouth a small portion of the food.

Vivian blissfully stares at Becca and David’s faces, confidently waiting for their impressed smiles. “This tastes amazing honey, you have just reminded me why I married you,” he jokes. “Shut up,” she playfully nudges him with her elbow. We all get so lost in how tasty the food is that we forget Mattie hasn’t come down to eat with us. “Is there something wrong with Matt...I doubt he can spend all this time in the rest room?” I wonder out aloud a moment later. “You are right, it is not like him, I will go and check on him,” David slides back his chair, ready to get up. Vivian pushes his arms down forcing him back on his chair, “he is fine, he probably has a running stomach or something, just sit and enjoy your food before it gets cold,” she insists.

I throw her a suspicious look and she ignores it and gazes down at her plate, a nagging feeling builds up in my tummy, something is wrong. Mom probably did something to upset Matt. It cannot be a coincidence that on the day she decided to make herself useful and cook, Mattie gets a running stomach that keeps him from joining his family for dinner. I know my little brother better than anyone, I practically raised him and I know that dinner time is his favourite time so if he is not coming down then something is wrong. It’s either mother is clueless or she is hiding something and I make it my business to find out, “I’m going to check on him,” I push back my chair and jump to my feet. “Becca...don’t trouble yourself, Matt is fine, why won’t you listen to me...I’m his mother aren’t I?” I respond with a humph, everyone in this house is well aware of the fact that I played the mother role in Matt’s life and I continue to do so but there is no need to waste my time stating the obvious. “It’s no trouble at all mother...I cannot sit here to eat when I don’t know what’s going on with my brother,” “but your food will get cold,” she yells. “Let it! It’s just food! Matt is way more important to me than having my meal while it’s still hot,” I curtly say.

“Becca!” Vivian grumbles, “Just let her go, if Matt is alright like you say he is, then she will be back soon,” I hear my father softly say as I disappear out of the room.