The Marriage Contract

by Tara Ahmed

  Across his features, was a thoughtful guise, as the light streaked over his silky brown locks, giving his hair- a chocolate luster.

  “You’re really pissed at him,” said Richard. “What did he do?”

  “It doesn’t matter what he did. I’m…I’m taking a short leave.”

  We stood in silence, but soon, the air between us grew awkward, as I diverted my gaze at my airline ahead. Sending him a curt nod, to which I hoped he interpreted as “goodbye”, I walked ahead. The wheels of my luggage gargled against the smooth, white ground, as I stood behind a rather tall, voluptuous woman, who stood with her back to me. She was, perhaps, six feet in height, her thick strawberry blond locks, twirled into a high bun behind her large head.

  “Dorothy,” Richard’s voice called from behind. “How long is this leave?”

  There was a kind of sadness in his voice, a kind of tear filled longing, as the deep tremor in his tone quivered just slightly.

  I had the faint urge to turn, but didn’t, as the woman ahead of me walked forward. She was speaking in a thick Greek accent to the airline personnel behind the desk, explaining her flight details with exaggerated hand gestures.

  “That doesn’t concern you,” I replied. “Please…just go—”

  His hand gripped over my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, as though attempting to comfort me. I breathed evenly, shaking out of his touch, and whipped my head to the side, glaring.

  “Don’t touch me!” I snapped. “You’re just as rotten as James! Both of you, you’re just…cruel. How can you play with people’s emotions like this? You’re giving me all this attention, trying to capture my interest, and I know it’s all a game. You’re playing a sick, twisted game with me, and I can’t stand it! Just leave me alone! Both of you brothers are horrible, and neither of you have any right to play with my emotions like this! So just get lost!”

  The last part escaped from my lungs in an explosive yell, as I panted, my eyes beginning to glaze. The woman before me, along with the people who stood in the aisle beside me, stopped to stare. They gave me pointed looks, and then, turned their focus on Richard, eyeing him coldly. In that moment, these strangers had made up their own story about me in their minds, deciding that I was a victim of some sort.

  But I was a fool, rather than a victim. A silly, little fool who had signed off a piece of her heart to a man that possessed no heart. I had known exactly what I was getting into when I married him, I had signed a contract, clearly stating that we were never to fall in love, yet it was I, that had. Perhaps, James wasn’t to blame. Perhaps, I was.

  The images of James in bed with that other woman- smiling at her, as he would at me, clouded over my mind, piercing through my lungs, as I sobbed out a cry. Like a fool, I stood in line, crying as if no one were watching.

  But everyone was.

  I didn’t care.

  “Darlin’, it’s okay.” A woman from the aisle beside me- passed a tissue, her soft brown eyes staring kindly at me. “Breakups are a part of life. It only means that someone better will come along. Why, a girl like you doesn’t come along often.”

  My shoulders felt heavy, as I took the tissue from her hands, wiping it under my cheeks. The middle aged woman, whose thick auburn locks were a few shades darker than mine, smiled once more, the bright pink of her lipstick reminding me of cotton candy. Plastic, round, white glasses, like something out of the 1970’s, framed her small face, as a braid rested over her tie-dye t-shirt.

  “You’re very kind,” I told her. “But I don’t think I want anyone else to come along. I’m kind of done with love, or anything resembling it.”

  Thankfully, I’d been assigned the window seat.

  My elbow pressed against the arm rest, as I leaned against the soft seat, staring at the cloudy sky. The plane had not yet taken off, as people were still entering, placing their duffle bags into the top compartments.

  “Enjoying the view?”

  My heart pulsed, as I recognized the deep voice, knowing exactly who it belonged to. I swallowed a deep breath, my chest heaving, as I slowly turned to the side, my eyes widening in horror.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped. “I can’t believe this! Get off this plane right now!”

  Richard shot me an irritated look, shaking his head as though I were insane. Ignoring my reproach, he took the seat beside me, turning on the small, square T.V. attached to the back of the chair before him.

  “I’m taking a vacation,” he replied. “Last time I checked, I was allowed to take vacations wherever I pleased. Besides, you don’t own Ohio—”

  “And last time I checked, you’re a complete psychopath,” I retorted. “We both know why you’re going to Ohio.”

  He adjusted into his seat, attaching the complimentary airline earphones into the side of the arm rest, raising a brow.

  “Now, Dorothy, you’re being a little harsh, aren’t you?” he teased. “I’m not completely psychopathic. Maybe, a little bit, but not completely. And why do you think I’m going to Ohio?”

  I exhaled an exhausted sigh, as a flight attendant approached, asking us to put on our seatbelts. Glaring at him, I snapped on my belt, frustrated that he was doing the same.

  Why couldn’t he just leave?

  “You’re obviously going so you can irritate me,” I snapped. “I told you that I don’t want you, or anyone there! I would like to be alone, Richard. Do you get what the word ‘alone’ means, or do I have to define it for you?”

  He yawned, stretching his muscular arms over his head, before shooting me a sheepish smile. As another flight attendant passed, she stopped for a moment, to stare at him, then at me. Then, for a reason unknown to me, she gave me a thumbs up, as if to say, ‘you’re so lucky to have such a handsome guy like him annoy the living hell out of you.’

  Or something like that.

  Feeling frustrated, I gave the flight attendant a pointed look, to which she blushed, scurrying away. Richard’s brows rose, as he shot me a confused look, before turning to watch the woman walk away. He returned his gaze to me, the corner of his lips turning upwards to a sly smirk.

  “The way you’re glaring at that flight attendant, I’d say you look jealous,” said Richard.

  I scoffed. “No way! Are you insane? I mean, how could I be jealous—”

  I paused, as a rush of a memory hit the soft point of my heart, momentarily fogging my mind. I recalled moments from over a month ago, where James had accused me of being jealous over some woman at a gyro stand.

  I smiled.

  “You’re smiling,” Richard noted. “Something funny?”

  I shook my head, twisting my smile into a frown, as I turned my head to the side, staring out the window.

  “It’s nothing,” I lied. “Listen, Richard…I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but it’s not going to work. I don’t know how long I’ll be in Sandsville, but as long as I’m there, I need everything that reminds me of James, to be out of my life. At least until I figure things out. You understand, right?”

  A deep silence passed, as the piercing sounds of the plane screeched through my ears, popping them as we ascended towards the open sky. Turning my gaze towards Richard, I sighed in frustration, annoyed that somehow, he had managed to fall asleep. His thick brunette head dangled to the side, threatening to slip off the edge.

  Fearing that he’d fall to the ground, I placed my arm at the side of his temple, adjusting a small, red pillow behind his head. His arms rested over his lap, his broad chest rising and falling, as a serene line pressed over his full lips. Since we were to sit beside each other until the duration of the flight, I was relieved that he didn’t snore.

  When my eyes fluttered open, I noticed, with a weary mind, that my head was resting on Richard’s shoulder. I was so close to him, I could hear the soft rhythm of his breath fanning over my head, trickling into my neck.

  “Get up,” he whispered. “We’re in Ohio, Princess.”

  Princess?

&nbs
p; I snapped my head away from him, jerking my neck against the window, as I slowly turned to stare at him. My heart pulsed rapidly, my hands clenched over my lap, hoping beyond hope that I was just being paranoid.

  But as I looked into those familiar golden brown eyes, I knew that they could belong to only one man.

  Chapter Twenty

  His eyes, as always, were a reflection of ice, staring into me with an unfaltering gaze. Though I’d known him for a little over a month, his penetrating stare which I sometimes wondered had burned through steel, could belong to only him.

  “Oh, come on, Dorothy,” he said. “Not again.”

  I stared at my palms lying limp on my lap, before clenching them against the red cotton of my skirt, rising from the seat. Ignoring his comment, I pushed past, lifting my head to face the closed white compartment. Morning light streamed through the small oval window before me, burning into my collar bone, as I tiptoed, my arm reaching towards the handle of the compartment.

  The flats of my silver sandals pressed into the thick carpet of the plane, as I grunted, trying to push the knob open.

  Damn it!

  I glared at the white stubborn compartment, exhaling a deep breath, as a low chuckle caught my interest. Glancing down, I squinted at him for a millisecond, surprised by the curl of his smile, and the slight twinkle of his eyes.

  When he winked, licking the edge of his full mouth, my heart leaped.

  Feeling foolish, I looked away, focusing once more on the compartment that refused to open.

  Passengers passed by me, excusing themselves, but bumping their bags against my back nonetheless.

  “Stop staring at me,” I said, my fingers almost reaching the white circular knob of the compartment.

  “How do you know I’m staring at you?” he asked. “Besides, I think it’s funny. Do you want to know what I find funny, Dorothy?”

  I shook my head, pushing my locks over my back, as my fingers finally managed to twirl over the knob.

  “I don’t care to know,” I replied, gripping the knob. “Just take the next flight back, will you? Whatever you’re trying to do, isn’t going to work. I’m not going to follow along your stupid plan—”

  He cleared his throat, rising from the seat, towering over me. I stared at the pale flesh of his throat, at the veins lined across the muscular curve of his neck, before looking away altogether.

  “It’s quite amusing,” he continued. “Do you remember how you hugged me that day, mistaking me for my brother? You did the same thing again today. You thought I was James. When will your brain start working, little Dorothy? Did you really think that James would come get you, especially after he cheated on you?—”

  “Just stop!” I snapped, glaring coolly at him. “I don’t have to explain anything to you! And…wait…how did you know James—”

  Richard smirked. “I know everything.”

  My eyes rolled like a wheelbarrow, as I pursed my lips, annoyed by his vague response.

  “You’re so pretentious,” I said. “You don’t know everything, okay. And I’m so freaking tired, that I honestly have no energy to argue with you—”

  A large, round man, pushed past- the pointed end of his bag shoving me in the process. Before I could register what was happening, I found myself tangled against Richard, whose long arms wrapped over me like a blanket.

  “How convenient,” he drawled. “You’re real clumsy, aren’t you, little Dorothy?”

  “Stop calling me that!” I snapped, gritting my teeth. “And let go of me! Let go of me or else—”

  “Or else what?” he challenged.

  I looked to the side, not wanting to get lost in his penetrating stare, as I attempted to wiggle out of his arms. My hands were rigid by my side, and the more I wiggled against his body, the more I could feel the beats of his heart accelerate.

  “Or else I’ll do something you’ll really regret,” I threatened, staring at the center of his throat.

  A low chuckle escaped his lips, and as I looked up, he raised a brow as though amused.

  “That’s pretty vague,” he said. “Hmm, let’s make things a little interesting, shall we?”

  My gaze rose to his, as I wrinkled my nose, confused.

  “What do you mean?” I questioned.

  His head dipped towards me, and I leaned back, staring suspiciously at him. He smiled an easy smile, his arms gripped around me, tightening just a bit, as I gasped, my eyes bulging.

  “If you don’t tell me how much wood could a wood chuck, chuck, before the woodpecker came to chop off his wood chuck, I’ll kiss you.”

  Was he out of his freaking mind?

  I gaped at him, opening my mouth to give a witty retort, but then closing it, realizing I couldn’t out smart his idiotic statement.

  “I’m not answering you,” I snapped. “Let me go!”

  “You have three seconds.” His lips were by my ear, his cool breath purring into my lobe.

  “Now, wait just a second,” I began. “You can’t—”

  “Three.” He spoke slowly, staring at me predatorily.

  “Richard, I swear I’ll—”

  “Two…”

  His forest like cologne danced around me, seeping into my neck, as I felt the tip of his bottom lip press against my ear.

  “No, wait!” Fear escaped from my lungs, as I gaped at him, doe eyed. “Richard, don’t you dare—”

  “One.”

  I shivered, my chest slowly heaving, as his arms tightened its hold around me. Tentatively, my eyes lifted to meet his gaze, and for a moment, I was surprised that there was no malice in his expression, but more of a childlike daze.

  The sound of a puckering kiss pressed against my cheek, as I gasped, my eyes widening. The apples of my cheeks flushed hot and cold, as he tilted his head, shooting me a winning smile.

  “Didn’t I warn you?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  Oh, that slime ball!

  As I lifted my right foot, ready to stomp on his polished black shoes, he stepped back, beaming at me. I glared at him, my chest heaving, as he leaned against the wall of the oval window, a challenge set across his sculpted face.

  “You’ll pay for that,” I promised.

  He tilted his chin, taking a step forward, his eyes sparkling with a kind of light I didn’t know he possessed. He looked almost…happy.

  “Excuse me, ma’am…sir…you’ve got to exit the plane.” The airy sound of a flight attendant caught my attention, as I turned my head towards her.

  Her bright green eyes, stared politely from me, to Richard, before walking off towards the end of the plane. The hem of her grey skirt, danced along the edge of her knees, as she stood by the exit sign, shooting me an expectant look.

  “I’ll be right over,” I told her. “Just give me a moment, please.”

  Richard walked towards me, staring past me, as I furrowed my brows, not trusting his next move. He stood a foot behind me, his shadow looming over the seats before me, as I tried once more to get my bag out of the compartment.

  As I tiptoed, my hand circled over the handle of my black purse, prepared to yank it out. But when a cool hand slid over my palm on the handle, I froze.

  “This is why short women wear heels,” he whispered, his lips hovering over my neck. “You should buy a pair.”

  Feeling my temper boil, I stomped on his foot, satisfied as he yelped, hopping back like a wounded kangaroo. Thrusting my bag out of the compartment, I turned towards him, slapping the firm black purse against his shoulder.

  “You’re such an infuriating jerk!” I yelled. “Just stay away from me!”

  He groaned, shooting me an angry glare, as I turned away from him, jogging towards the exit.

  “You’re not so pleasant yourself,” he called. “Geez, I think you broke my arm!”

  **

  I took quick steps past the entry of the airport, the Ohio sun blaring into my neck, as I dragged my suitcase behind me. Nervously, I looked to the side, and back, afraid that Richa
rd was following. After I’d attacked him with my purse in the plane, to my relief, he’d vanished. A part of me wondered whether he took the returning flight back to New York, but my common sense told me otherwise.

  Richard was still here, and he wasn’t going to leave without a fight.

  As I neared the wide exit doors of the airport, my mind pondered on a thousand questions regarding Richard. For one thing, I couldn’t understand why he was going through all the trouble following me here. I mean, what did he have to gain?

  As I pondered about Richard’s possible motive, the fresh burst of air streamed into my lungs, as I inhaled the Ohio gust. Crowds of souls passed by, lovers walking hand in hand, and everyone, heading into their cars, their eyes pulsed with glee.

  While I searched for a taxi, my palm gripped over the handle of my worn luggage, a familiar face caught my eye.

  I almost screamed from joy, as Uncle Jeffrey stood at the farther corner of the airport exit, holding a name card against his chest. The card read “Mrs. Dory Bellevue” in crooked red cursive, stark against a small rectangular board, as my uncle stared passively at the crowd, searching for me.

  I smiled, amused that he hadn’t yet cut the jerry curl hairstyle he’d kept for over twenty years. The bright red of his hair appeared shinier than an apple, as the wind struck his locks to the side, over his sturdy shoulder. Uncle Jeffrey was a tall man, about six feet five, with a chubby build, as his belly protruded out of his plaid white shirt. His skin, ripe as a peach, flushed pink- his rugged hands brushing a trickle of sweat off his faint rosy brow.

  “Uncle Jeffrey!” I yelled from the center of the crowd, as a few heads turned to eye me speculatively.

  Ignoring their scrutiny, I ran towards my uncle, dragging the suitcase behind me. He turned his head to the side, still unable to spot me, but when I was five feet apart from him, his sky blue eyes lit with warmth.

  “My little darlin’ is back,” he cheered.

  My eyes glazed, as we ran towards each other, before he scooped me into his arms like he would when I was small. His warm arms curled over me, as he lifted me high, staring up at me with a wide grin spread across his jolly face.