Marry For Money

two

tw \\ vomiting

Eleanor stood in her living room. She and her four sisters resided in a comfortably large cottage that didn't have enough bedrooms but was overflowing with love. She felt the tears being pinned to the corners of her eyes, stinging enough but not having the courage to overflow. 

"What's your family's next plan of action?" Anthony asked. He sat on their ragged green sofa, looking concerned. Eleanor thumbed though the books that rested on the family's sinking bookshelf and opened one. She had already read this book, she had read every since book on this shelf and the one upstairs, along with the one in her own personal bedroom. Her father's favorite past time was reading after he retired a year ago. 

"I have no idea. They said they would send someone over in a couple hours that you debreif us on the will and what will happen next," 

"Eleanor... come sit." 

"No! God, no! Anthony, I'm... I'm going to be sick," Eleanor sputtered as she felt the bile rise in her throat. 

"Oh, Eleanor. Let me-" He jumped up and grabbed a pail that was shoved in the corner of the fireplace, placing it in front of Eleanor's mouth. As she clutched the sides and bent over, he held the pail with one hand and let the other lightly rest on the back of her garment. 

She retched. He held her. She cried. He held her. 

A moment later they were enveloped in each others arms on the floor like a puddle. Eleanor was sobbing into his shoulder, the thick tears getting his dark brown overcoat wet. He placed the pail to the side and pulled her closer to his chest, careful to not let his hands fall farther than her lower spine. 

"I know, I know." His whispered, his lips gracing her ear. The husky voice enveloping her senses. 

"I-, I-" She tried to articulate. The words seemed to get all choked up in her throat. So instead of speaking, she simply cried. Over the death. Of her father, and her mother. And all the messed up shit she had to deal with for her entire life. All the nights she had to hide her tears from her little sisters. And how she now had to stand even stronger to keep them from falling under the weight of what the family had lost. 

And yet, her own knees were close to buckling. 

"I got you, Eleanor. I have you." Anthony said again, he gripped her shoulders tight and held her so close that the only thing she could smell was the sweet soap he used to wash up with. She could smell the shaving cream that clung to his scruff. Her eyes were pressed so tight that no more tears could run through them. 

"Breathe." Anthony said, "Breathe." And Eleanor did. She tried to push out the shaky breath and it took a few moments for her to get her rate on a steady beat again. She looked up at Anthony, he had thick curly brown hair and big kind puppy dog eyes. She sunk deeper into his large arms that reached around her 

"I don't know what to do Anthony. My parents are both dead," 

"Look, Eleanor. I will buy this house. And I will let you live in it," He said, Eleanor gasped and pulled away. 

"No... Anthony, I cannot let you do this. Goodness, your generosity overturns me."

"Please, Eleanor. You and your sisters deserve a life here. Where you've always lived."

"Anthony, no. I mean, maybe father left this house in the will and you won't have to buy it at all?" 

"Eleanor..." 

"I know, I know." 

"I will buy it."

"No, Anthony. I will figure out a way to get this house. I appreciate your eagerness to help however since both my parents have passed it is now my duty to care for my sisters. Not yours," 

"Your sisters are like mine. We've been like family since we were three and you know that. I will do everything in my power to help you, Eleanor." 

"And I appreciate that more than you know. But I cannot in my right mind of consciousness let you do so." 

"You're too kind for your own good, Eleanor." 

"My father taught me to be like that," She said. The tears boiled again in her eyes. 

"I miss him too," 

"Can you stay?"

"I can always stay for you, Eleanor."