Mrs James

Lia woke up with a start, screaming and coughing. She had been drowning in her dream. Fernando had been standing there, watching her but he made no move to help her.

"Finally, you're awake." She heard and sat up quickly moving towards the head of the bed. She had fallen asleep in the wedding gown too tired to change.

Fernando was on the couch watching her. How long had he been there watching her? Feeling self-conscious, she pulled the gown closely to her body as memories from last night assailed her senses.

>>>>>>>

"It's our wedding night, Amelia." Fernando said as he walked towards her.

Lia wished the wall would magically grow a door so she could disappear and never show her face again. If wishes were horses....

"How should we celebrate it? I have don't have to go to work tomorrow, since I'm the boss. So technically, I have enough time to spend with you."

"Newly weds do have honeymoon after all." He added chuckling.

Lia shivered and pushed back against the wall willing it to move an inch so she could put some distance between them.

"What did you make?" He asked and she had to think about the question twice before she could provide an answer.

His closeness was wreaking havoc on her senses. She wasn't sure what he'd do next or what he'd try.

He was talking about 'wedding night' and 'honeymoon'. What thoughts could be running through his mind?

"You must be wondering what I'm thinking." He continued and she wondered if he was some kind of psychic who could read minds.  "It's my wedding night. It's supposed to be with your mother but you already know how that turned out. Anyway, you're here so what can you offer me?"

A wave of panic hit Lia and she staggered struggling to remain upright. Did he mean he wanted to have sex with her? Surely, he wouldn't do that to her. Right?

"I asked, " he continued and closed the distance between them, his breath fanning her face. "What can you offer me?"

"Spaghetti." She blurted out quickly and his hand that had been moving towards her face stopped midair.

Confusion danced in his eyes and Lia would have thought he looked cute if this had been a different situation. Now she mainly wanted to get away from him.

"Spaghetti?" He repeated and his next action shocked and surprised Lia. He laughed.

A real laugh, full belly laugh that forced tears from one's eyes.

Lia watched him shamelessly taking in his looks. He looked younger than he was before. Normally he looked his normal age of 40 but right now, he looked younger, like a young man in his thirties.

"What are you thinking Lia?" She chided herself and forced her eyes away from his face.

He wasn't hers to admire and besides he didn't deserve to be admired by her. He had forced her into a marriage for Pete's sake.

"You should go while I have the strength to let you go." He said pulling her out of her thoughts and she stared at him, confused.

"What?"

"Run Amelia, run."

She had run just like he said and ended up in one of the other rooms in the house. She had planned to go downstairs to eat some of the food she made but her exhaustion won over hunger.