Tangled Vows

Chapter 1

Astrid sat nervously in the waiting room, her leg bouncing around anxiously as she waited her turn. It hadn't been an early morning rise, but it had disturbed her usual lie-in, and Astrid always loved to sleep in whenever she got the chance.

However, this day was important, even though it was a weekend. It needed to be done, and it couldn't be postponed.

A hand steadied Astrid's bouncing leg, helping to still it into silent shivers with a warm smile.

"It's going to be fine, Astrid. No need to be nervous. You have me with you." Astrid smiled and held his hand, taking comfort in her fiance's presence and his seemingly endless support in her madness and anxiety.

"Thanks, Eret. I'm glad you're here with me."

Eret chuckled, "I kind of have to be."

They laughed together, recalling the reason that they were there in the first place, and the silly idea that Astrid could have come here by herself. There was no way they would allow that, and no reason for her to come on her own anyway. They needed each other, and Astrid was glad to have Eret along with her anyway, even if it was compulsory.

"Miss Hofferson and Mr Eretson?" A small voice called out to the couple from a doorway opposite them. The two stood to be received and followed the lady into her office.

It was a small room, housing a large desk which dominated the center of the room, and several filing cabinets that lined the wall behind said desk. There were a few photo frames on the desk that made the room feel a little bit more hospitable, and less like a Principal's office, as well as a large, foreboding painting on one wall which did make the pair feel as though they were being interrogated. A medium-sized window on the opposite wall from the painting allowed some light to enter the room, illuminating it from a dark and intimidating space, into a more welcoming one.

Taking a seat on one of the chairs in front of the desk, Astrid marvelled at the room around her whilst she waited for the woman to take her seat on the other side of the desk. Eret also took his place in the chair beside Astrid.

"So," The woman began as she took her seat, shuffling it closer to the desk. She clasped her hands together and rested them dutifully upon the desk. "What can I do for you today?"

"Well," Astrid began, wringing her hands together in her lap, her legs squeezed tightly together so as to dispel some of the anxiety still swirling throughout her body. "We're here for a prenup."

Eret smiled proudly, nodding at Astrid in proud confirmation. It wasn't that Astrid was especially bad at speaking to people, or that she was inherently bad at speaking at all. But whenever it came to something important, that was when she would find it the most difficult to speak. Ever since she had come to the city, the large towering buildings, and the bustling crowds of people, made her feel small and inconvenient. Her voice slowly faded, and over time, she was trying to find it again.

"Oh, wonderful!" The woman announced with a beaming smile, clapping her hands together once as she pushed herself back into her chair. "I do love weddings." She quickly turned to her monitor and began typing away on her keyboard. "When is the wedding? If you don't mind me asking."

Astrid began to perk up, hearing the genuine interest of such a character in her life. "Oh, well, it's in 9 months." Astrid smiled at Eret, exchanging a loving gaze towards one another as they each envisaged their wedding in their minds. The perfect day. That was how Astrid had wanted it.

This prenup, on the other hand, was not her idea. Nor had it ever been a part of her plan.

However, Eret's family had been pretty insistent upon the whole prospect, especially Eret's mother. Astrid knew why. Eret's mother had never approved of her and always had some kind of vendetta against her, and Astrid could never figure out why.