Chapter 3

MAY. "Ethan?" Was this some sort of hallucination or did Ethan really just catch me? He wasn't anywhere nearby... His hands around me set butterflies alight in my belly and I can't fully process my thoughts as I ask the first question that comes to mind. "I thought you went to work." He looks down at me, his face still so blank though I could have sworn I saw a spark of something in his eyes. "I realized I forgot to give you the keys." Right. The keys I hesitated to take earlier on. Harriet fake coughs, the sound humorous, and I realize that since he caught me, Ethan hasn't let go of me. As if reading my thoughts, he then lets go of me and looks away. "You must be tired from all the stress of today. It's better that you go home." Home? But I need to see Anna. Once more, my actions have come back to haunt me. "But I…" I begin to interject but I stop myself. I can't say I am fine. Not after a dizzy spell. And if I do, then both of them might insist on following me home. I will have to go home some other time. I nod, resigned. "Okay." Ethan hands over the key to me, but there is more than one set of keys. One is for his house and another for something else. I look up at those hypnotizing grey eyes. "Your car is outside," he says perfunctorily. "But you can use Granny's driver today." I blink up at him, certain I have misheard. "My car?" Ethan's eyes never leave my face and I feel like he is gauging my reaction to this matter. "I got one for you to make your day easier." Just like that. Is that how easily people buy cases for other people? Other people, whom they haven't known for just a week? My skin feels tight and I feel weird. There is a limit to weird things even I can handle, and I can't handle this. Sean might have thought of me as a freeloader but that isn't who I am. "I don't think I can accept that." I drop the keys back into his hand and I think I see a hint of surprise in his expressionless face, or maybe it was just a trick of the light. It has to be, because the moment the keys land in his hand, he is trying to give them back to me. "You are my wife," Ethan says. "It is my responsibility to do this." His responsibility. That's all this is about. Then I definitely cannot take it. I have no intention of fulfilling a lot of my wifely duties. At least not before knowing him properly. I shake my head, refusing to take the keys. "We just got married less than an hour ago. Responsibility or not, as my husband, it is too soon. I can't take a car from you." Ethan's kissable lips part again as though he wants to contest that fact, but Harriet cuts in between our argument. "Children, there is no need to argue about this." Kissable lips? I need help. Maybe I shouldn't have kissed him. My body still hasn't fully recovered. Harriet's wise gray eyes find mine and her hand settles on my arm. "Darling, please just accept the car. Take it as a wedding gift from me." That is one heck of a wedding gift. It is too big, too much. I want to refuse as politely as I can. Harriet seems to sense my hesitancy as her eyes plead with me. "You can't deny me this, May." There is something about this woman with her kind eyes that makes me unable to say no. Maybe it is how much she reminds me of my mom. I nod my agreement, feeling weird about how easily I caved into her pressure. Harriet beams at me before turning to her grandson with the sternest expression that is almost the direct opposite of the sweet one she gave me. "And you are not going to the office on the day of your wedding." "But, Granny–" Ethan tries to argue but Harriet is having none of it. Her voice is strict and unflinching. "That's it, Ethan. You are married now. Both of you need to get to know each other. I will not accept any arguments." Ethan falls silent as she adjusts her bag. "My driver will take me home and you can drive her home." He attempts to sway her again. "But–" She presses her index finger to his lips. "Hush." This is the breaking point for me as I can barely hold in my laughter. It looks so funny to see his grandmother hush him as though he is still a child. Ethan doesn't protest anymore and she nods approvingly before settling in front of me and kissing both of my cheeks, her eyes twinkling. "See you at home, dear." "See you at home, Harriet." She squeezes my hand softly before moving back to her grandson, kissing both of his cheeks as well before heading out. For a second after she leaves, everything is silent and it sinks in that this is the first time since the wedding that we are alone. Completely alone. I don't know what to say so I talk about Harriet instead. "Is she always so… assertive?" For the first time since I met him, I see something other than that mask of careful indifference that he dons so well. The sides of his lips turn up into an almost smile. "That's my granny for you." That suggestion of a smile is more than enough to stun me into silence. Then his face smooths out and I am with the cool, official Ethan again. "We should leave," he states evenly and I nod. I take a step, and his hand goes to my waist. I jump so high that I startle both of us, my heart racing. "What are you doing?" He looks at me as though I am the one acting strange, as though he didn't just touch me. "I don't want you to fall again." Heat floods my cheeks as I recall that he thinks I swooned earlier because I was lightheaded from all the stress. He only wants to assist me. Why did my brain compute it as something else entirely, associating it with the memory of that kiss? "Okay." His hand is at my waist, not wandering, as he assists me outside. To the vehicle that takes my breath away instantly. I don't know much about car models, but this one looks like it was driven straight here from the dealership—bright new paint, hubcaps on the tires that gleam so brightly I almost squint. Not the kind of car someone drives around to do their errands unless they also want people to notice them. I'm about to protest again, but it is at this moment his phone begins to ring. His hand leaves my waist as he takes the call and his entire mood changes. "I'll be right there," he says quickly, then he ends the call. Ethan meets my gaze with an unspoken apology in his. "Something urgent has come up. I need to go." I shrug. It's not like there is anything really wrong with me. "Don't worry. I can manage." He lingers. "Are you sure?" I am more than sure. I need to talk to my sister alone as soon as possible, and things couldn't have worked out better. I nod. "I am." He hands me a tight fold of money. "For a taxi. You shouldn't drive in this condition." I look at the crisp bills in my hand. It is too much for cab fare to my sister's place. Besides, I do have some money of my own. "You don't need to-" I begin to say but he has already turned and started walking away briskly. I tuck the money into my pocket after much reluctance, then I call a taxi. **** I am preparing my words to say once I see my sister but I shouldn't have bothered because Sean is the one at the door. "Where have you been?" he asks gruffly. His thin hair sticks up on one side like he's been asleep. "Nowhere." I try to sidestep him, but no luck. He blocks me from entering. Sean is beyond pissed as he regards me with that faint look of disgust. "This isn't your house. You can't just enter and leave whenever you please." That is the last straw that breaks me. To think that I once considered him the coolest brother-in-law. I smile at him. "I'm moving out." He looks dumbfounded. Then I hear the sound of the only voice that matters to me now and I go still. "What?" Anna moves close, worry in her eyes. "Why do you want to leave?" Sean looks between both of us before turning and walking away, leaving us alone to talk. The first considerate thing he has done in a while and I am certain that is only because he doesn't want to be present for teary goodbyes. How do I tell my duster the reason I need to leave is because of how unwelcome I feel here? I don't want her marriage to fall apart because of me. So I shrug and smile awkwardly. "I got married." Anna's jaw drops open in uninhibited shock.