Baby blue short stories

the arranged marriage 1

PoV Will
I hadn't met the husband my father chose for me before our wedding day. I was just glad I didn't have to marry a woman. I could never please a woman.

Now father was walking me down the aisle and there he stood.

Tad Strange was a handsome man with black hair and a faint smile.

I didn't know a lot about him, just that he had three kids, that were 10, 14 and 17 years old and that his former wife had left him.

I was just hoping that, despite being one of his business partners, he wasn't as cold and loveless as my father.

We said our yes' and kissed carefully.

~~~
"Please, Emily, please put on your coat! It's cold outside!", I begged.

"No. I don't want to!", the 10 year old huffed and threw her coat on the floor.

I couldn't stop her tantrum and almost started to cry.

"Emily, why aren't you wearing your coat?", I suddenly heard my husband ask.

"Will said I didn't need it.", Emily suddenly claimed.

"Why would you say that? Come on baby, let's get you to school. ", Tad sighed.

I didn't say a word. I just went to get the lunches I had prepared.

Then I started cleaning the big house.

Sadly Emily, the ten year old, and her sister Megan (14) didn't like me at all. They would constantly blame for things I didn't do and even break stuff. I covered for them. I didn't want them to get hurt.

"William, why are you acting like this?! I thought you were a, and I quote,: -very good boy-!", my husband was angry and I understood.

"I'm sorry. ", I said.

"William. If there's something bothering you, you can tell me!", my husband took my hand carefully.

"I-I-I", I stuttered.

"William, I-", suddenly there was cry from one of the childrens rooms.

Immediately we ran to the noise and found Emily on the floor, crying.

"Daddy! Daddy!", she cried.

I didn't know what was happening.

"What is it, baby?", he asked, picking her up.

"My dolly is hurt!", she cried.

Then she showed him her doll, that was missing an arm.

"Don't cry, how did that happen?", asked Tad.

"I found her in the laundry basket.", the girl sniffed.

"It does smell clean. William? Did you wash it?", sighed Tad.

"Megan asked me to. I swear, if I had known it would rip...", I answered.

Suddenly Tad looked really angry.

"Why do you hate my children so much?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!", he suddenly yelled.

"I-I-I", I stuttered.

"For fucks sake, just GO!", he yelled. I felt myself shaking.

"Please, I didn't know!", I begged.

Suddenly he raised his hand. I shielded my face immediately and dropped to my knees.

"Please don't hurt me, I didn't mean to!", I sobbed.

Tad put the confused child down and send her to the kitchen.

Then he knelt in front of my, as I cried, waiting for the inevitable hit.

"William. Don't cry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice like that. Please, look at me.", he said softly.

I didn't dare.

"Darling. ", he sighed.

Then he carefully pulled me into a hug.

"I will never intentionally hurt you, William. Why would you think that?", he then said.

"I thought you were like my father...", I sobbed into his chest.

"Did your father...hurt you?", he asked.

"Only when I deserved it.".

"Let's go to our bedroom. I feel like we have to have a talk.", he sighed. I followed him into the room.

Tad sat down on the bed and patted the space next to him. I sat down.

"William, this is really important. How did your father hurt you?", he asked.

"Well, he would slap me all the time...pull my hair...beat me...", I trailed off.

My husband asked, concern in his voice: "Is there something else?"

"Sometimes he would, well, discipline me with a leather belt. But only when I really deserved it!", I answered truthfully.

Tad looked really angry.

"That is bullshit! No child deserves to be punished like that, EVER!", he cried out.

"So you wouldn't hurt your children?", I asked bluntly.

"Of course not! I love my children. I don't want anyone to hurt them, ever! How could I do that?!", he huffed.

I felt tears rise.

"Even if they tormented me all the time?", I then asked.

"...do they?"

I nodded.

Tad wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"I'll talk to them.", he said.

"I think they miss their mum.", I thought out loud.

He nodded.