A Little Bit Married

Marionette

A knock came on the door, and I turned, my eyes slowly opening. I had just started to fall asleep again, and my brows furrowed.

"Come in."

I turned to the door just as it opened, and Aunt Althea walked in, a small smile on her lips.

"I am sorry, did I wake you?"

I immediately shook my head, my smile small as I sat up. "I am okay, Aunt. Is everything alright?"

"Samantha is fine now. I wanted to check with you if you had any special requests for lunch."

"Special requests?"

She nodded, her eyes watching me. "Like allergies, food you can not stand, things like that."

I smiled. "Thank you so much, Aunt. I am only allergic to strawberries."

She started to nod but then stopped, her brows furrowing. "Strawberries?"

I nodded. "Yes. I have a very violent allergy to strawberry."

She gave a small smile. "Well... do you want to eat here, then?"

I shook my head. "I will come down with you."

She swallowed. "Gray?"

"He went to work. I think. I do not think he has had anything to eat, however."

She gave a small sigh. "Gray is rather negligent of himself."

Negligent is not exactly the word. He was more... nonchalant. Like he didn't care much for... well, much.

"What do you think I pack lunch for him?"

"What?"

I smiled, loving the idea. I have always envisioned doing the same thing for Kevin. Packing lunch and taking it to his workplace, then scolding him about taking care of himself. What if the person was a little different? Maybe a little different, but still. He was my husband.

"I do not think that is a good idea."

My brows furrowed as I turned to her. "Why?"

"Well..." she bit down on her lips, then sighed. "I... you have not..."

"I can pack enough for both of us. He will..."

"Just stay home."

I looked up, and Aunt Maurine was by the door, her eyes cold.

"Aunt..."

"Oh, please. His real wife is getting ready to take lunch to his office. You should stay here and stuff your face with the exquisite food we know you have never had before."

I turned to Aunt Althea, my face falling in disappointment. She sighed, her eyes averting mine.

"I am sorry. I was..."

I shook my head, then immediately flipped the covers, my eyes wide. "Good for Samantha, but I am his legal wife. And I will bring him lunch."

"Evangeline," Aunt Althea said, but before she finished, I had breezed my way past Aunt Maurine, who was by the door.

I went downstairs to the kitchen, and sure enough, Samantha was down there. She was dressed rather elegantly, and I figured she still had some of her clothes here still. She had been living with them up until the wedding anyway

There was a bandage on her hand, but otherwise, she looked rather fine.

"You look fine for someone who fainted earlier."

She turned to me, then smiled, shaking her head. "You are right. Gray made sure to take care of me, so I am fine."

I nodded slowly. "I am going to take lunch to Gray."

She stopped, then slowly turned to me. "What?"

"You heard me. I am taking lunch to Gray. My husband left without eating and..."

"Your husband?" She said, her voice rising. "Your husband was waiting for me at the altar and..."

"And you never showed up!" I yelled, my chest heaving. "You made me help you run away with my boyfriend! Was it fun? Did you both laugh in that damned car while I stood there, thinking I had done something in the name of love?"

"Yes," she said, her eyes darting across both of mine. "Yes, it was fun. He said you were always the naive little b***h he could trust to cave in. Who do you think gave you the recommendation slot to work here? Me. Kevin knew you would help me leave. Are you surprised?"

My lips parted, and I struggled to keep the tears back. "You are lying right now."

"Call up your friend. The one who originally worked at the restaurant. Ask her. Amy, right? Ask her how much Kevin and I paid her to ask you to join them. Ask her how..."

"Kevin didn't even know!"

"Of course, he did! You are a naive little b***h and that is nobody's fault. You really think Gray would look at you the same way he looks at me?"

"No," I said slowly, my chest heaving. "Gray was right. You are nothing but a shameless whore."

"How dare you?!"

"Don't you dare! Lunch, dinner, whatever, anything that has to do with Gray, I will do it. How about you go grovel at Kevin's grave? Give him my middle finger while you are there."

Before she could say anything, I turned to the cupboards and immediately started to bring out ingredients and packaging boxes.

She stayed there seething for a while, her chest heaving, her eyes wide. After a while, she turned away and stormed out of the kitchen.

I stopped cutting the ingredients and leaned on the work table, tears filling my eyes. My chest felt like it would burst, but I couldn't cry. Not now. I couldn't lose to this woman again.

I straightened and continued cutting up the ingredients, then started cooking. I mixed the batter for a healthy fruit bread and put it all in a cute heart pan I found with the help of one of the maids, then slowly finished up with the rest of the food.

Once it was done, I packaged it, then went upstairs for a quick shower and change. I changed into a knee-length black and white dress with a simple necklace and earring pair and low heels.

I combed my hair back and turned to the mirror. It looked okay, and I slowly went downstairs. I grabbed the box and then went outside.

I spoke to one of the guards, and they immediately called a driver. I recognized him as the one that Gray had given me to go home with.

With a small sigh, I got into the back seat, then settled, closing my eyes.

A lot of things filled my mind as I sat there, simply contemplating everything. How my entire life seemed to be a set up, and I, a simple marionette in the hands of people I either loved or didn't even know.

Come to think of it, Gray already knew about it all, but he did nothing, as if he was hoping for her to leave on the wedding day.

I bit down on my lips and shook my head. Maybe this was exactly what I needed. A little breather from the mistakes I had made. I am sure Gray would be glad that I already regretted the decision I took against his own.