Tomorrow began the end.
I awoke early in the morning to a racket beyond anything I had ever heard in my life. Before I had even gotten out of bed the door banged open and four woman came bustling into the room. They chatted to each other in a language I didn’t know as they began to tear my room to pieces.
“What’s going on?” I cried, but none of the woman acknowledged my existence.
“Excuse me, there is someone in here,” Clara shouted, pushing her way into the room. The woman continued to tear my dresses from the closet and gather up my belongings.
“Clara, what’s happening?” I whimpered, grabbing onto her hand.
“Abel’s gone mad,” Clara sighed. “He’s got the house filled with these people. They’re cleaning and moving things. One tried to kick me out!”
“Where are they taking my things?” I asked, watching the woman disappear with my clothes.
“To Abel’s room,” Clara replied. She ripped one of the dresses from the woman and scowled at them. She shoved the dress into my arms. “Hurry and get dressed, Eri, before they try to move you as well.”
“Clara, don’t leave me.” I begged, clutching at her arm.
Clara’s blue eyes softened and she pulled me into a hug. “Oh darling, I know how terrible this must be for you, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to make this easier on you.”
The door to my bedroom opened once again. Clara spun to fight off the intruders. I grabbed her wrist before she could punch Ethan in the face.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that, Ethan.” Clara demanded. “These are troubling times, it’s every woman for herself.”
Ethan ignored Clara’s playful threat. He shoved himself between us and clasped my face between his palms. His blue green eyes searched mine for a moment before he pulled me into a kiss. It was the sort of kiss I was ashamed Clara witnessed.
“Well don’t swallow her,” Clara shrieked, pushing Ethan away. “We’re trying to keep her from being traumatized today, remember?”
“That wasn’t traumatizing,” Ethan retorted, but his heart wasn’t in the argument. I could see by the way his eyes flinted around the room that he was battling inner demons today.
“Speak for yourself,” Clara scoffed. She clucked at me like a mother hen, ushering me into the bathroom. “Hurry and get yourself ready.”
I bathed and dressed as quickly as I could manage. I found if I focused on my next task, and that task only, I could avoid letting any thought of the wedding into my mind. But then there would be a crash from downstairs, Abel would begin screaming, and I couldn’t keep the thoughts out of my mind any longer.
I came out of the bathroom, my skin clammy. I could see from the looks on Clara’s and Ethan’s faces that I looked faint.
YOU ARE READING
Imported Love
RomanceErica York has lived her whole life in her small village with her family. Her parents work night and day to support their ever growing brood of children, but there never seems to be enough money. Desperate to keep their family alive Erica's father s...
