Mr. Always & Forever

by Ashlee Price

  By morning he had made his decision and it was only with the sunrise that he knew things were going to change. He liked changed and had a good feeling that this time it would be good as well. When he found Bertraud and asked him to come with him to the docks, the man wasn’t as ready to go.

  “Are you sure this is really what you want to do?” He wanted to impress upon him the permanence of it. He didn’t think that his young friend understood that there was no getting out of it. He would have to take care of the woman for the rest of their lives and Bertraud wanted him to really think about it.

  “Do you think this is a bad idea?”

  The older man almost looked over his shoulder to make sure his wife wasn’t around. “I just think that maybe you haven’t thought this through all the way. It is forever and I don’t think you have ever done anything for that long.”

  Thomas nodded and agreed, but he didn’t see it as this great love connection that Bertraud had with his wife. He wasn’t looking for love. He was looking for someone to come home to that would take care of him. When he explained it the way he envisioned it, the older man just shook his head and smiled. “Well I suppose we shall see. If you want to go down there, you know I will go with you.”

  He had given him a little pause in his plans, but Thomas was ready to move forward. He was quick to find his way down the path to the docks. Mariss had told him who he was supposed to be looking for and soon he had the red-haired man in his sights. It was easier than he thought and after he paid, Thomas was told that there would be another boat arriving in a couple of days and then he would be dropped off to the address he had given.

  Walking away from it, he didn’t know if the feeling in him was anticipation or an impending sense of doom. He had talked about the women as if they were things to be sold and he guessed in a way that they were. It was only then that he wondered if he had done the right thing. Had he just bought a slave or a wife?

  Chapter 2

  The ride there was horrendous and even though Callie had known the seas were rough between Ireland and Scotland, she was not prepared for the overnight trek. The rough waves bounced them all over the place and there were several times that she was sick over the side. It was not what she had expected and when she got to the docks in her destination, she was rightly sweating and a general ill feeling overcame her.

  When the man named Spurgis called her name, she walked towards him and he made a grimacing look. His mind went to the young guard that had been there a couple of days before. As his father was in the dungeons because of men like him, he thought that the woman would be perfect for him. He smiled at her and was satisfied that he would be able to get some sort of revenge with her. She was hideous looking, pale and considerably weak. She was perfect. Where most of the other women were put together, Callie looked like she was going to faint at any minute, her black hair hanging in her face.

  “I have someone perfect for you, lass.”

  She smiled at him and then waited with the rest of the ladies. Callie noticed that they were much more dressed up than she was. She didn’t have fine dresses like the others, but Callie held her head high. Callie was all nerves, but one way or another she was going to have a husband by the end of the evening. While many had chosen to come to Scotland for a chance at a new life, Callie was more or less running away from something.

  The wait seemed to drag on while they were rounded up like sheep. It made her nervous that she looked so different than everyone else. While she had traveled for comfort, it seemed everyone else had worn their best. Callie wished that she could clean herself up, but they were soon taken to different areas in the town. The new fiancées were to make sure that everything was ready for the marriage and she was to be wed that evening.

  Callie was dropped off at a single-story house that was modest, but far nicer than the one she had shared with three other family members back home. There was nothing to suggest that someone lived there though, no personal belongings out to be seen. It made her curious of what type of man could live there, but she wasn’t given much time before she found out.

  Thomas stopped for a moment when he opened the door and took in the wretch that was to be his new wife. Already he was reminding himself that it wasn’t because of anyone else that she was there. He had made the decision and it didn’t matter what she looked like. At least she didn’t appear to be able to blow away in the end, though it was hard to tell with all of the layers on her.

  “I’m Callie, nice to meet you.” The woman pulled her hair back from her pale face and her blue eyes sparkled back at him. They didn’t fit into the rest of her, so vibrant where she was so dull.

  “Nice to meet you, Callie, my name is Thomas, and welcome home.” It was strange in the context to say that, but that was exactly what it was. It was now her home and he really hoped that she could cook. She may not have been much to look at, but he wasn’t looking for love.

  She moved into the darkened room slowly, taking in her surroundings. The inside was much the same as the outside and the first thing she did was pull away the covering of one of the small windows. Then she could see the real state of the place and she sighed to herself. It was clear that he was in need of a wife and he seemed cordial enough. Callie hadn’t been expecting a man so young, or handsome, but she was thankful that he was.

  “The wedding is for later this evening, so I will leave you to it here until then to get yourself ready. My friend’s wife has agreed to come over and help you.” Thomas didn’t know what else to say and he was trying to fight back the awkward feeling.

  Callie was as much at a loss of words as he was and breathed a sigh of relief when he left. Callie didn’t know if she should start on herself or the small house and her surroundings won out. She didn’t see herself and the wretched state she was in yet. All she could see was the dirt and cobwebs all over the house.

  She was halfway through the front room when she heard a soft knock at the door. Callie hollered to come in and she turned to see a slight woman with straw colored hair. “Hi, you must be Callie.”

  Callie nodded and Mariss closed the door behind her and smiled. “This place is already looking better. Though I think we should get you ready before the rest of the place is taken care of. Did he show you to your room?”

  She shook her head that she hadn’t. The woman’s words made her self-conscious of how she looked. “I got sick on the way over here, many times, do I look that bad?”

  Mariss just smiled with a little sympathy. “Well, dear, you look like you have had a rough go of it.”

  Callie thanked her, it had been a heck of a journey there and now she was just a little overwhelmed but she made her feel better already. “Thank you for being here. He just kind of told me to have at it and I don’t really know where anything is.”

  Mariss was already starting some water to boil and just waved her off. There were a lot of things that Thomas was known for and his tact was not one of them. She was sort of surprised that he had taken the time to light a fire. She also wondered what he had seen when he saw Callie. She looked a right state for sure, but she saw passed the still clammy skin and bedraggled hair. Mariss saw the beauty within and she had a feeling that Thomas was going to be surprised at the results.

  “Don’t you worry about a thing. We will have you and this place right as rain soon enough. I have a feeling you are going to be good for Thomas. He needs someone to shake him up a little.”

  “What is he like?”

  Mariss paused to think of how she could describe her husband’s friend. He was loyal to Bertraud, but that was the exception. He was a man that liked many women, but never for long. “Well he is quite friendly.”

  “He seemed nice, but a little shy.”

  The comment made the older woman laugh a little as she prepared a tub of water. “I wouldn’t say that he was that, but it will take time. I have a good feeling that he will be even more tongue-tied when he sees you for the wedding. Did you bring something to wear?”r />
  Callie nodded though there was a surge of emotions of how she got the garment she was going to wear. It was given to her as a going away present, though she had not wanted to leave, but had had to. Shaking off the feeling and the heat in her eyes, she looked away for a moment. “Yes, I have something to wear.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I am just missing my family. It’s just… a lot of changes so suddenly.”

  Mariss put her arm around her, trying to imagine what it would be like to leave everything she knew behind. She would have done it for Bertraud, but she was very thankful her family was close by and she could see them every day. To not see them again or for long stretches of time couldn’t even be imagined.

  “You will find your home here. I know it won’t be the same, but it will all work out.”

  Callie wanted to believe her, but she wasn’t sure. There was something about all of it that made it all finally hit her and what she needed was to sleep, but there was still so much to do that she knew she would not be able to. She had to make herself presentable for her marriage. The wedding night was what kept lingering in her mind. Callie was shocked to see that she would have her own room, but she figured it was just a custom until they were wed. Surely they would stay together, right? Scotland couldn’t be that different, she thought to herself. They weren’t that far away and they seemed much like she did. Callie was doing and saying it all so that she would calm herself down. Mariss helped and by the time she got into the tub of hot, steaming water, she closed her eyes and tried to relax.

  She asked a few more questions about Thomas that she was dying to know, but it all seemed to be okay. He was an upstanding man as far as Mariss said, though there was something that she was holding back, Callie just knew it. But it was going to happen and he seemed like a nice enough guy. Callie didn’t have much better offerings back at home.

  Starting to feel a little more like herself, Mariss nodded at the results. “You are quite pretty Callie.”

  “Thank you. I just hope that he likes me.”

  Mariss didn’t comment. She didn’t want to ruin her dreams of what would happen. Bertraud had told her about Thomas’ plan for his new wife, but she had a feeling that he wasn’t expecting such a beautiful woman to walk down the aisle. The dress she was tight and showed off her curves. Mariss shook her head. No, he didn’t know what he was going to be in for and Mariss smiled to herself. She always loved a good love story and she was sure that Thomas and Callie were going to be in love in no time.

  “What are you smiling like that for?”

  “Oh, nothing. Just thinking back to my own wedding day. It has been years since I walked down the aisle in a small church north of here. I hope your day is as memorable as mine was.”

  “Was it arranged or did you know him?”

  “I knew him since we were kids and I have loved him since I knew what love was.”

  Callie felt a little discomfort as the other woman looked off with a smile on her face. Callie wondered if she would ever feel that way about Thomas. He was definitely easy on the eyes and she knew that she easily could.

  Chapter 3

  “I am telling you Bertraud. She is perfect. She looks like she fell face-first off a cart, but she is going to be perfect.”

  Bertraud was confused. “You are happy that she is ugly?”

  Thomas nodded. “There will be no way that I will want more. As long as she can cook and clean up a little, that is all I could ask for. I should kiss your wife for the idea.”

  He gave him a dirty look at the idea. Even though the two had been together for over a decade, he didn’t like the idea of the young man whisking her off. “Hands off my Mariss. Well I am happy for you, if this is what you want. You still have time to back out of it if you want. Once you are married though…”

  “I know, you have told me four times already today my friend. You will like her and I hope her and Mariss get along.”

  Bertraud just shrugged, not really caring what the women did all day with themselves. As long as Mariss had dinner ready when he got home and his clothes were clean, he could care less. It made him realize that Thomas’ idea of marriage wasn’t that far off, though he was missing out on the best part of it in Bertraud’s opinion.

  “Well I wish you happiness my friend, though I can’t say that I am looking forward to meeting her.”

  “She is not that comely, just plain. I am sure it will be fine though.”

  Bertraud just nodded, not sure if he was trying to convince him or himself. “Whatever makes you happy, my friend. Maybe you will stop being in such a foul mood, but I don’t know if I would want to come home to a plain wife.”

  Thomas tried not to think about it. “As long as I come home to food and a fire, I don’t really care. I gave her the extra room, so you won’t be able to come over there when you have said the wrong thing to Mariss anymore.”

  Bertraud chuckled and claimed that he only came over to remind her of what it would be like without him. They both knew that it wasn’t the truth, but Thomas was going to give him his fantasies. He wasn’t as nervous after seeing her as he thought he would be. It made him feel better to know that there wouldn’t be any romance between them. He liked the way her eyes had shone at him, but there wasn’t much more that she had going for her. She really was plain.

  The two men did a little drinking and spent a lot of the day at the pub. It wasn’t until the time came for the wedding that they went back outside to a dark sky that Thomas let it all sink in. He was about to be a married man.

  ***

  The small ceremony was going to be at his house and they had a minister coming to officiate that was sent by the man at the docks. It was part of what he was paying for and Thomas was more surprised at the clean interior than he was anything else. “Is this my house?”

  Bertraud was given a dirty look from his wife and he tried to pretend that he was innocent.

  “You had one thing to do Bertraud! He is barely standing!”

  He smiled at his wife and helped Thomas stand up a little straighter. She did not find it very funny and she sighed loudly at him. “I cannot believe you two. It is your wedding day Thomas! You should not be like this.”

  Thomas just smiled back at her and she was sick of seeing their grinning faces. Mariss had imagined the two falling in love, but then she was reminded of what he was really like and she hoped for Callie’s sake that he could sober up by the close of it.

  She went back into the girl’s room and let her know that they were there and ready for her. Callie had this look on her face of panic and Mariss worried what she was going to look like when she saw the state of her husband to be. It certainly wouldn’t be what Mariss would be looking forward to.

  “It seems that Thomas and Bertraud have had a little to drink.”

  Callie didn’t seem bothered but she saw her face fall when she saw Thomas. She would have lost all hope, if she hadn’t also seen the way he looked at her. Mariss had a feeling that he was going to find a way to sober up quickly.

  “This isn’t Callie.”

  She looked puzzled for a moment and then stopped. Callie must have realized that he was too drunk to know who she was. “Yes. Don’t you remember?”

  “But you were so pale and plain.”

  Mariss closed her eyes and sighed. It was definitely not what she would like to have heard when she was about to be wed. Callie seemed to take in stride and shrugged. “The journey was long. I didn’t really have time to freshen up. Are you not pleased?”

  He nodded his head that he was, though another part of him was not. Thomas had honestly wanted a wife that he wouldn’t have to lust after, but how could he not if she was to be his? Her body was curved and voluptuous in a tight white gown. Her chest heaved with her faster breathing and she was upset. He saw that she was, but he was more worried about looking at her to answer the question. He had heard it, it was important, but as his gaze went up her body, Thomas had forgotten about it all to
gether.

  It was only when Mariss slapped him from behind that he nodded his head that he was pleased. How had he not seen it before?

  “Sorry Callie. I just didn’t recognize you. Yes I am very pleased. You are beautiful.”

  She heard his words, but he didn’t seem very please. The look on the man’s face was worry and she thought that she may have preferred the dumbfounded look from before.

  Chapter 4

  The first evening together went a little differently than Callie had expected. She had put so much thought, effort and worry into the wedding night that she found herself not knowing what to do when her husband passed out in his own bed hours later. She was left awake and staring up at the ceiling from her own room. It was not at all what she had expected and she didn’t know what to say or do. Her mother had told her what to expect, but it was nothing like what had actually happened. Callie started to wonder if she just wasn’t desirable to him. She wished then more than anything that she had someone to talk to.

  The next morning she was up early making breakfast and tidying up the house from the night before. She waited around for the man to get up and when he finally did, she handed him something to drink and eat. He smiled at her gratefully, still not realizing how badly he had acted the night before. He asked if she slept well and she nodded, though Callie still had no clue what had happened.

  “Are you that unhappy to be married to me?”

  He looked up from his breakfast, not sure what she meant. “Look I am sorry about last night. I might have had a little too much. I guess it was all of jitters.”

  She knew that was as good as it was going to be for an apology, and she could relate. Her own nerves had been high the day before. But she had not expected to have to sleep in her wedding dress because no one was there to help her out of it.