A wife for my brother

Laura was already in her seventh month, for the rest it was the sixth. Every day she felt heavier, more annoying and Harry was not contributing anything good. He remained absorbed and lost in his world where Deanna lived. He continued to be attentive to Laura, when he wasn’t dodging reality. They even fixed up the little girl’s room together. But those moments were brief.

She saw no way out of her problem. She thought about Alice Reed and her own life, afraid to follow in the footsteps of Leonard’s wife. She was reaching her limit.

– You were right, Beverly. I’m going to pick him up at the office to take him out to lunch and he always has an excuse. Deanna appeared and took off after her like a torpedo-

– My assumptions weren’t wrong, Laura. I’m sorry –

– I feel heavy and tired all the time. I’m carrying this pregnancy on my own, he doesn’t even bother to give the child a name –

– It’s only a matter of time before he decides to run and get her, you know as well as I do –

– Yes… Apparently the relationship with Daniel is serious. I’ve never seen him like that for anyone, not even for Emily –

– Maybe it’s time to plant the seed of doubt… You don’t want to give birth alone –

– I don’t want to lose him, I went through a lot to be with Harry… And for this family I’ll do whatever it takes –

– I didn’t know you were so determined, Laura.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

– I’m not usually like this, but the other day we were talking about Alice Reed. She ran into her at a children’s party, apparently she said some horrible things to her. Sometimes I imagine myself in Alice’s position… I’m not going to endure it –

– You won’t have to endure anything. I also heard something about what happened between them. I think Leonard will give us a hand without knowing it. He has a huge interest in Deanna –

– That guy is disgusting… –

– Yes, and he’s got a nose for getting into trouble. With Daniel they’ve been sizing each other up like animals ever since he talked to Deanna at the company party. He can be of use to us –

– He won’t go near her if Daniel threatens him –

– Oh, yes he will! He’s just looking for an opportunity, Reed’s not interested in anything but satisfying his own desires –

– What will you do with Daniel? –

– In a few days we will have to travel out of town to sign some contracts. I must go with him to go over the legal aspects, he was reluctant to go out of town, but I managed to convince him, he is the CEO after all –

– Do you think you’ll have a chance? –

– I don’t know, I won’t try either. We have to keep a low profile, but it’ll give me time to spend with him –

– I’ll talk to Deanna more often those days –

– Yes, you do that. Make sure she knows what you’re going through.

Innocent little Laura was proving to be a handy ally. Exploiting people’s hopelessness was Beverly’s business.

She would have Daniel three days to herself in a remote hotel. She needed nothing more than to be herself; when he is in her environment with someone like her he would notice the difference with his wife.

– I’ll go out of town for three days… –

– All right… –

They were both at the kitchen table preparing dinner; something that was becoming a habit. They managed, somehow, to return to the ordinariness of their lives. No matter what obstacle presented itself, they managed to overcome it. Daniel was more at ease because Deanna had shown him in every way she could think of that she loved him, that she wanted to be with him. And he had seen all his wife’s efforts to help him cope with his insecurities. That, coupled with the explosive intimacy they shared, meant that he could no longer imagine a life without her.

-I have some meetings to attend to, I really don’t want to leave,” he said.

– It’ll only be three days, it’ll go quickly.

– I have to go with Beverly – He wasn’t going to lie or hide anything from her.

– It’s okay… – She smiled.

– It’s just work –

– Oh, is it? –

– Sure… –

– Mmmm… you’ll be gone for three days with another woman… –

He knew that tone of voice, she used it when she wanted to make him fall into one of her tricks.

– You know that I’m not interested in anyone but you –

– I don’t know… She’s a very pretty and interesting lady –

– I don’t care what she is… –

– Don’t you? –

– Don’t tell me you’re jealous.

– Ha! Me jealous? I don’t know what you’re talking about… Impossible –

-I don’t know… It seems to me that you are… –

– Jealous? Jealous that my sexy husband is leaving me to run off with another woman? You’re imagining things –

– You’re very sure of yourself.

– Of course I am…

He came up to her and hugged her from behind.

-What an arrogant woman.

And kissed the back of her neck. Deanna shivered a little. Every caress he gave her brought her goose bumps, she could lose herself in his warmth, in his scent; she relaxed so much when he put his arms around her.

-The architect told me that in a couple of days your music room will finally be finished, you can move your things in there.

– That’s great, thank you –

– It was supposed to be finished sooner, it was your birthday present –

– But it’s ready now… Thanks for spoiling me like this –

– I’ll give you whatever you want, you know –

– Yes, but I only want you… –

– Mmmmm… –

– How did the subject of your escape with another woman to my music room change? Are you trying to convince me? –

– No, I’m not…

– You didn’t make it, anyway… –

– What do I need to do that? –

– Maybe a few more kisses like that.

The children burst into the kitchen, but they weren’t surprised when they saw them hugging. They had grown accustomed to finding them like that every now and then, in fact, the displays of affection they gave each other brightened the spirits of everyone in the house. Even Jonathan stopped ” fighting” with his father for Deanna’s attention.

– What are we having for dinner? – Naomi asked.

– “Some salads,” Daniel replied.

The general sound was one of disappointment. This health food mania was boring.

– What? – he asked.

-We could have something less… healthy for dinner sometimes.

– Your father’s going away for a few days, what do you say while he’s gone we prepare very, very unhealthy dinners? –

– Yes! Burgers and fries – Ethan said enthusiastically.

– Pizza! – Naomi added.

– Hey, I’m still here! –

– Don’t worry, Daniel, we’ll be waiting for you with the unhealthiest dinner of all when you get back –

– Stop spoiling them so much –

– I don’t know what you’re talking about…

At what point he went back to having a happy family, he didn’t know. But there it was. His kids shared more things with him, he was much more close to Ethan than he used to be. The boy would come to him with his problems or doubts or they would just chat. Naomi, for her part, became more loving towards her father, which made Daniel a complete mess and he found it harder and harder to deny her anything. The little boy, even with his unwillingness to talk, would sit with him to read some stories or keep him company while he was in the office with his crayons drawing.

All thanks to the fact that Daniel had lost some of his inflexibility and regained a taste for life. Deanna, she managed to do it with pure affection, repairing little by little the broken pieces of his heart. She filled in all the empty spaces that made him so sad.