The Wandering Caravan (7 page)

“You always mak
e me feel good.” I kissed her gently then guided her back to bed.  I knew she was tired, judging by her drooping eyes and deep breathing. She let me pull her back to bed and in my arms. Immediately, she fell asleep.

I watched her for a long time b
efore I took a picture of her with my phone. I wanted to remember this night forever, the first night in our new home. Scarlet and I would raise our kids here. I’d make love to her every night. She and I would grow old together. And I would get everything I ever wanted.

Scarlet was so hung over the next morning, she couldn’t even get out of bed. When I asked her to open her eyes, all she did was squint. I tried not to laugh because I knew she was in pain, but it was funny.

I got her Aspirin and a few glasses of water. I helped her sit up and down the pills.
She immediately touched her head and sighed.

“Bad headache, baby?” I whispered.

“Yes.” Her voice came out barely audible.

I lay her back down and tucked the covers around her. “I would love to stay with you but I have to take care of our guests.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

I put her cell phone in her hand. “Text me if you need anything. But I’ll come in and check on you all the time anyway.”

“I’m starving…”

“I’ll make you something and bring it up.”

“Thank you.”

I kissed her forehead. “No problem. I’ll be back.”

She released a deep sigh then didn’t move.

I watched her for a moment before I left the bedroom and closed the door gently behind me.

Everyone was downstairs already. Grocery bags were on the counter and the dirty pans were in the sink. I eyed Ryan suspiciously. “What did you cook?”

“Cortland and I went to the store this morning.”

“How did you get there?”

Ryan nodded at the keys on the counter. “The Ferrari.”

I shook my head. “You’re lucky you’re my brother-in-law.”

“Just brother,” Ryan said. “And I know.”

“That baby drives smooth,” Cortland said. “Better than my car.”

“Well, an infinity isn’t that nice,”
Monnique said.

She never undermined him in our presence. Ryan and I both felt awkward. There was clearly trouble in paradise. I cleared my throat and ignored the comment. “There better not be an
y scratches.”

“I just hit a herd of cows on the way.” Ryan sipped his coffee then sat down at the table.

“The breaks are super sensitive,” Janice said.

“You drove it too?” I asked incredulously.

“Everyone drove it, man,” Ryan said with a laugh.

“You guys are assholes,” I said.

“Does Scarlet know about your toy?” Cortland asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No. Not yet.”

“Can I be there when you tell her?” Cortland asked.

“She doesn’t care what I spend my money on,” I said.

“Clearly,” Ryan said sarcastically. “Judging her reaction to the house.”

“Scarlet isn’t used to getting nice things—that’s all.” I felt the need to defend my wife.

“Where is that brat anyway?” Ryan asked.

“She has a hangover.”

Cortland laughed. “I bet she does. She was so wasted last night.”

“At least we don’t have to see her today,” Ryan said with a smile. “The day just got better.”

Ryan picked on his sister a lot even though he loved her more than anything. His way of expressing it was odd sometimes.

I piled pancakes, toast, and bacon onto the plate then carried it upstairs. Scarlet was deep in sleep when I walked inside. I left the plate on the nightstand with a glass of juice. The smell of the food would probably wake her up eventually. After I gave her another kiss on the forehead, I went back downstairs.

Cortland was looking up apartments on his laptop while Monnique sat beside him. He scrolled through and asked which ones she liked. Janice sat on Ryan’s lap while he read the morning paper. I felt left out without Scarlet sitting beside me. I sat down and ate my breakfast.

“You like this one, babe?” Cortland asked.

“Sure.” Monnique didn’t even look at him.

Ryan and I exchanged a look. We knew a silent fight was taking place between Cortland and Monnique.

Cortland kept his cool and didn’t react to her hostility. “I’ll take the Ferrari into the city and take a look.”

“My car isn’t a rental,” I snapped.

“Then I’m taking it afterward. Janice and I are going to have sex in the backseat,” Ryan said.

I glared at him. “The only girl getting fucked back there is my wife.”

“Eww.” Ryan shook his head vigorously. “Bad mental image…”

Cortland laughed. “You walked right into that one.”

“Damn, I did,” Ryan said. He covered his eyes and kept trying to rid the disturbing picture.

I finished my pancakes then pushed my plate aside. My phone rang in my pocket.  I assumed Scarlet needed me so I grabbed it as quickly as possible. When I saw my mom’s name, I sighed in disappointment.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, baby. You home?”

“We just got home last night.”

“Well, thanks for letting us know.” She said it with a laugh but I could tell she was upset I didn’t check in with her. I was a grown man and I didn’t to check in with anyone. She was never like this when I was single or with Penelope. For some reason, my marriage to Scarlet made her more attached.

“So, what’s up?”

“We want to hear about the trip, obviously.”

“Oh. We’ll get together next week.” Everyone fell silent while I talked on the phone. Cortland glanced at Monnique and saw the anger on her face. Janice was gripping Ryan’s thigh like she wanted to get back into the bedroom.

“Next week?” she shrieked. “No. Your father and I want to see you today. We haven’t even seen the house yet.”

Since Scarlet was hung over, I knew that was a bad idea. I decided to compromise. “Tomorrow works better for us.”

“Your father is taking
me to the zoo. You know how much I love those penguins. Today works out perfectly.”

I loved my home but sometimes I hated her guts. She always got her way and it irritated me. “We have friends over so now isn’t a good time.” I knew how angry Scarlet would be if I caved.

“Ryan, Cortland, Janice, and Monnique?” she asked. “We’d love to see them.”

Would she ever quit? “Mom, no. We’ll get together sometim
e this week.”

“Excuse me? Who signed off on the loan to get you that house?”

Seriously? She was going to throw this in my face? “You, and I’m very grateful you did. But today isn’t a good time.”

“But I want to see you and Scarlet. And I want to see the house. We’ve only seen the outside of it.”

It took all my strength not to yell at her. “Can I talk to Dad?”

“No,” she snapped. “You’re talking to me. And we’ll be there in an hour.” She hung up.

I sighed and placed the phone on the table.

Ryan tried not to laugh. “Your mom is a peach.”

“Scar is gonna kill me.”

“Good way to start a marriage,” Cortland said with a laugh.

I stared at the phone and contemplated calling her back and trying to convince her not to come, but I knew that was pointless.

Scarlet came down the stairs a moment later, her hair messy and all over the place.
She wore one of my t-shirts and my sweatpants. She may look like a lazy bum to everyone else, but she looked hot to me. Anytime she wore my clothes, she looked sexy.

She moaned then curled up in my lap, her eyes closed. “Come to bed.”

“We have guests, baby. I can’t.”

“They don’t care,” she mumbled.

“Yeah,” Ryan said as he picked up the keys to the Ferrari. “We’ll find something to do.”

I glared at him then rubbed Scarlet’s back. “Still not feeling well?”

“I know I’m going to hurl. I just don’t know when.”

I felt bad for her. I hated it when she was in any kind of pain. “I’m sorry, baby. But you’ll feel better tomorrow.”

“Hopefully your in-laws don’t notice,” Cortland said.

Damn it, Cortland!

“My in-laws?” Scarlet asked.

I glared at Cortland.

“What?” he said. “They are going to be here in an hour and you just weren’t going to tell her?”

“Hey,” I snapped. “I’m married to her and you aren’t. Back off.”

Scarlet stared at me, her eyes wide. “Is he telling the truth?”

Ashamed, I looked away and nodded.

“Is this a sick joke?”

“You made out with Janice last night,” Ryan said.

She covered her face, horrified. “Oh my god. I did?”

“No,” Ryan said with a laugh. “But that was a sick joke.”

She rolled her eyes then looked back at me. “Sean, can they come over another time? I’m just not in the mood to entertain your mother. She’s going to expect me to be the perfect housewife with pearls and heels.”

“I tried, Scarlet…she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Why do they have to come over today?” she asked incredulously. “Any other day would be better.”

“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh.  “She’s very stubborn.”

“Sean, call her back and tell her they are welcome to come over later this week. Not today. I can’t let her see me hung over like this.”

“Who cares?” I said. “I don’t care what she thinks. I married you, didn’t I?”

“So, you’re saying you married me against her consent?” she asked with a hurt voice.

“No,” I said immediately. “I just don’t care what she thinks of you. What anyone thinks of you, okay? Just be honest. My dad will think it’s funny.”

“I love your dad,” Ryan said. “That guy is the man.”

“Not now, Ryan,” Scarlet said. “Sean, call them back. I don’t have the patience for this.”

I felt her angry stare on my face. I felt cornered. I wanted to please my wife, and that’s what I vowed to do. I just wish my mom wasn’t so fucking annoying. I picked up the phone and called her back.

“Mom.”

“Hello, dear. We’re picking up some wine on the way. Red or white?”

“I don’t care,” I said quic
kly. “Something came up and we won’t we able to entertain you today.”

“Oh, Sean. We’re just down the street.”

Scarlet continued to stare me down, not letting me back down.

“Mom, I mean it. We aren’t in the mood today. You can come over any other day but today. That’s final.”

“How dare you talk to me like that?” she snapped. “We haven’t seen you or talked to you in nearly two weeks and this is how you treat us? We paid for a forty thousand dollar wedding and this is what we get?” She shrieked through the phone, her voice ringing loud in my ears.

Ryan looked at Scarlet. “Come on…cut him some slack.”

Scarlet’s eyes softened.

I listened to my mom yell at me over the phone, holding my ground.

“You’re being a bitch right now,” Ryan said. “He did the best he could. Just deal with it.”

Scarlet didn’t react to his words. She turned back to me and shoo
k her head. Then she mouthed, “It’s okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, Mom. We’ll see you soon.” I hung up before she could chew me out for changing my mind so quickly. “I’m sorry. I tried.”

“It’s okay,” she said quickly. “I didn’t realize she was so…determined.”

“You should have heard him on the phone earlier,” Ryan said. “She threw the house in his face.”

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

It was another thing I wasn’t planning on telling Scarlet—right this second. “They paid for the house. When I start working, I’ll pay them back.”

She cringed but didn’t verbally berate me in front of everyone. “Okay.”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

She stood up then grabbed the counter. “I’m going to try to look somewhat presentable before they get here.” She looked at the clock. “If I ever have enough time.”

“I’ll just tell her you’re sick and you’re in our room for the rest of the day.”

She turned around and put her hands on her hips, glaring at me. “Knowing your mother, she would just barge in while I’m sitting on the toilet taking a shit then ask me why I can’t be more like Penelope.”

Ryan and Cortland both laughed while Scarlet returned to our bedroom up the stairs. My hands were tied and there was nothing I could do, but I felt like a dick anyway.

9

Scarlet

I showered as fast as I could then tried to make myself look presentable. I had a pounding headache behind my eyes and the slightest noise made me cringe. Sean’s mom needed a reality check. She couldn’t just barge in here whenever she wanted then hang the wedding and house over Sean’s head. Hopefully, I could keep my anger under control so I wouldn’t say that.

I barely had time to dry my hair. The ends of the strands were still wet but I was out of time. I tried to fluff it up but that didn’t help. And I didn’t have a chance to straighten it.

Whatever.

I wore a black dress but didn’t wear any shoes. Since I was hung
over, I knew I would fall on my ass if I wore heels, and knowing me, I’d probably break an ankle too.

I sincerely hoped she didn’t expect me to make a fancy dinner with glasses of vintage wine. When you showed up
uninvited, you better not expect filet mignon. I went downstairs as soon as I was done and noticed the smell in the kitchen.

When I walked inside, everyone was busting
their asses in the kitchen, stirring a pot or taking something out of the oven. Janice had a large plate with asparagus and bernaise sauce. Monnique put the fresh baked rolls on the table. Ryan and Cortland worked on the chicken, pulling the cooked pieces on a plate. Sean was setting the table and the glasses.

I took a deep breath, appreciating everything they did to help me out. The
y all heard me then turned around, waiting for me to say something. My eyes coated with tears. “Thank you so much.”

“We got you,” Cortland said casually.

Sean lit some candles then came to me. “Take a seat and we’ll take care of everything, okay? I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself.”

“I’m sorry I was so rude to you e
arlier,” I blurted. “I just had a headache and…”

“Don’t worry about it,” he interrupted. “You had every right to be mad. I’m mad too.”

The doorbell rang and everyone put the plates and dishes away. It was just as clean as before they started cooking. Sean helped me out of my chair and walked me to the door. “You look nice,” he said.

“Are you joking?” I felt my hair. It was still wet.

“No.”

“I look like hell.”

“Maybe to you.” He opened the door and greeted his parents. “Hey Mom and Dad.”

“That’s a better welcome,” Diane said as she hugged him.

I tried to smile but I was struggling. His mother had her good moments and her bad ones. Right now, it was the bad ones—really bad.

She turned to me. “Hello, dear.” She flinched when she saw my partially wet hair. “Had a late start today?”

I kept my cool even though I wanted to punch her. “We slept in late today. We did a lot of traveling yesterday.”

She
hugged me then pulled away. “Have a good honeymoon?”

“It was great,” I said. “I wish we were there now.”
To get away from you.

“That’s nice.” She walked inside, carrying her bottle of wine. She greeted my brother and friends.

When Andrew came to Sean, he shrugged. “I’m sorry about your mother.”

“How do you deal with it, Dad?”

“I don’t know. I love her. What can I say?” He hugged his son and held him tightly. “Had a good trip?”

“It was great. Scarlet and I had a wonderful time.”

His dad elbowed him in the stomach. “I bet you did.” He gave him a wink.

Sean smirked.

I loved his dad. Andrew was a breath of fresh air compared to this mother. He came to me then wrapped his arms around me, holding me longer than he usually did. I always thought of him as a father figure since Sean introduced me ten years ago. I felt accepted the moment we met.

“Thank you for marrying my son. I’m glad I have a daughter that can keep him under control.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice,” I said with a laugh.

He pulled away then studied my face. “You seem a little off today. Is everything alright?”

“Umm…I’m a little hung over.” I felt comfortable telling Andrew the truth.

He smiled. “Long night?”

“Wine and board games,” I said. “Too much wine and not enough games.”

He laughed. “Well, your secret is safe with me.”

“That’s a relief.”

“You only live once,” he said firmly. “Do what makes you happy.” He walked inside and greeted everyone.

I turned to Sean. “Why can’t she be more like him?”

“I ask myself that everyday.” He wrapped his arm around my waist. “We’ll get through this today. You can hardly tell you’re…off.”

“Well, your dad noticed.”

“Cause my dad used to be a crazy party animal. My mom—not so much.”

“Really?” I said sarcastically. “I had no idea.”

“Just let me do all the talking.”

“Glady.”

We sat together and had dinner at the table. Diane asked us a few questions about our honeymoon. Sean’s responses were vague most of the time, but he did all the talking. Even when Diane directed questions at me, Sean took over. I was thankful because I wasn’t in the mood—at all. I ate my dinner and kept my head down. My head was still throbbing.

Diane sipped her wine and left most of
her plate uneaten. “We took care of everything at the office. It’s all ready for you and Mike.”

“Great,” Sean said.

“When are you going to work?” she asked.

“Probably in a few days,” he answered. “Scarlet and I still need to get settled.”

“Well, you have a meeting with Larry from human resources, and you have to speak to the CEO of Gloch for their microchip shipment.”

Did we have to talk about work right now? It was so typical of Diane.

“Dear, let’s keep it light,” Andrew said.

“What?” she said in exasperation. “I’m just making conversation.”

I wasn’t buying that.

Diane directed her gaze on me and studied me. I knew something bad was coming. “Dear, you look exhausted. Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” I smiled quickly then dropped it.

She wouldn’t take her eyes off me. “You just seem unwell. Perhaps you should lay down.”

“I’m fine,” I said again.

Andrew cleared his throat. “Dear, pass the potatoes.”

She handed him the bowl without looking at him. “Scarlet, are you pregnant?”

“What?” I blurted. “No.”

“You just look really unhealthy. You should see a doctor.”

Ryan looked down at his food and tried not to laugh. I knew Cortland was doing the same.

Janice came to my rescue. “Ryan and I are still looking for an apartment. It’s tough luck finding anything in the city. It’s already so crowded.”

Diane acted like she hadn’t heard her. “Scarlet, you should take a test. You seem a little heavier around the hips.”

I sighed and kept my anger back. I was about to explode at any second.

Sean didn’t keep his cool. “Mom
, Scarlet is fine. And no, she’s not pregnant. Please just drop it.”

“I’m just concerned,” she said. “That’s all.”

I would always try my best to get along with Diane simply because she was Sean’s mom, but I knew I would never have a close relationship with her. I hoped Mike would find someone good to end up with so I’d have a sister someday. That was the closest thing I would ever find.

Diane leaned toward me. “I have a recipe for a shake supplement. It’ll help drop that weight in no time.”

Ryan covered his face so he wouldn’t say anything.

Sean was pissed. “Mom, she hasn’t gained any weight! She’s perfectly fine the way she is. Now knock it off. I’m serious.”

“I’m hung over.” I didn’t care about hiding it anymore. Diane’s opinion literally meant nothing to me. “I’m still drunk from last night. That’s why I’m not in the mood and that’s why I didn’t want you to come over.”

Ryan smiled at me, glad I finally told her off.

Diane’s eyes were wide. “Hung over? Aren’t you a little old for that?”

Andrew stared at his wife. “Diane
, stop.”

“Do you have a drinking problem?”

Sean jumped to his feet then pulled out his mother’s chair. “Come with me. Now.”

“What?” She feigned innocence.

“Now!”

Sean was livid.

They left the room. And it was silent. Dead silent. Forks didn’t scrap against the plates and no one chewed their food.

“Don’t listen to her,” Monnique said. “You have the best body out of all of us.”

Ryan looked at me. “I’m your brother, so I’ll tell you when you’re fat and ugly. Scarlet, you’re neither of those things.”

I appreciated what they were trying to do. “I don’t care what she said. I have gained a few pounds, but Sean doesn’t seem to care. So I don’t care.”

“You haven’t gained any weight,” Cortland said firmly.

“Scarlet,” Andrew said. “I’m so sorry about Diane. I think she’s taking it hard that her son is really a man. She’s trying to latch onto him because it’s hard for her to let go. She’s always been the number one woman in his life. She’s just having a hard time.”

“She didn’t have a problem when he was dating Penelope.” I knew it was low but I was too pissed to care.

Andrew didn’t have a response to that.

I heard Sean yelling from the other side of the house. He really blew his lid.

“You can’t talk to my wife like that!”

Ryan held my gaze for a moment before he looked down. Cortland stared at the ceiling. We were all trying to act like we couldn’t hear everything.

I turned to Andrew. “Honestly, does Diane even like me? Because it seems like she doesn’t most of the time.”

“Yes,” he said firmly. “She does. She just…doesn’t show it in the right way.”

“Apparently,” Ryan said.

I could tell he was upset about the ordeal too. Ryan always picked on me for every little thing, but he was the first one to take my side when someone disrespected me. And I could tell he was upset. But he kept his angry back out of respect for me.

“I want you out!” Sean yelled from the other side of the house. “Take Dad and get the hell out. When you’re ready to apologize, and really apologize, you know where to find us.”

He came back into the room, the anger brewing in his eyes. “Dad, Mom’s waiting for you in the entryway.” Audible sobbing echoed throughout the house. Diane was crying her eyes out. Andrew sighed then patted Sean on the shoulder.

They left and the sounds of crying left the house. We sat together at the table, no one saying anything.

Sean gripped the back of a chair then closed his eyes, trying to control the anger still coursing through him. Then he grabbed a plate and slammed it on the ground. It broke into pieces and scattered across the floor. No one flinched at his tantrum.

When he was calm, he came to my seat then kneeled
before me. “I’m so sorry.”

I saw the sincerity in his eyes. “I know.”

“You are perfect the way you are. You haven’t gained any weight. Don’t listen to her.”

“I know.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “I just wish you two could get along…I don’t understand why she acts that way. I know it’s hard for her to let me go and accept you as the woman in my life…but this is ridiculous.”

I was glad Sean wasn’t taking her side. He made excuses for her for the longest time, but I’m glad those days were finally over. He stood up for me and didn’t let his mom disrespect me. And I was grateful. It could have gone a lot differently. “It’s okay.”

Sean acted like we were alone in the room. “Please don’t leave me.” He held my hand and squeezed it. “You deserve better than this and I’m so sorry.” He kissed my hand then rested his head on my lap. Everyone at the table looked away and tired to give us privacy.

“I don’t care what your mom does. I care what you do, Sean. Of course, I won’t leave you. I’ll never leave you.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “I told her we wouldn’t be spending time with her in the near future. And she needs to apologize. I told her to think about her behavior before she comes back. And even then, it may not change anything.”

Sean was being extremely harsh. “No matter what happens between your mother and I, I never want you to lose her, Sean. Please don’t ostracize yourself from your family.”

“You are my family. I married you, which means you’re the first person in my life. That happened the moment I said I do. I refuse to be around someone who disrespects you like that. I love my parents very much, but I could live without them. I couldn’t live without you.”

My eyes softened at his words. “Sean…”

“I shouldn’t have let her come over to begin with. I should have been firm.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” I said immediately. “Don’t do that. Your mom is perfectly capable of behaving. She’s just used to Andrew letting her get away with everything. It’s not your responsibility to teach her how to be an adult.”