Dear second fiancé

CHAPTER 5. wrapped around my finger

Lydia shut the bedroom door hurriedly and wiggled herself out of the jean jacket before throwing it in the empty closet. She leaped on the floor to push the suitcase along with the gym bag underneath the king size bed supposedly meant for her only.

Leaning against the knees for support while getting back up, she swayed the hair behind and huffed heavily, immediately freezing on the spot as she saw her own reflection. The beer from last night still on her cheeks making them puffy, that basic top with wide-legged light blue jeans. She felt like one of those soft pillowy stickers you could place anywhere in a sticker book as a child - somewhere completely out of place.

''Should I change?'' Lydia turned around to see the back of her outfit, ''Nah, if this is my home then I could wear something even more comfortable if I wanted to..'' She wondered upon hearing the front door opening at the distance along with the immediate wave of chipper high-pitched flow of words as if meeting a cute puppy while walking down the streets, Lydia knew the moment had arrived.

''I can do this? I can do this.'' She pressed her palm against the chest while taking in a deep breath before opening her bedroom door.

''There she is!'' Margaret threw her hands high in the air and began to take bouncy quick steps towards her, ''Our daughter-in-law!'' She closed Lydia in a tight hug before taking a step back, holding her shoulders to take a better look.

''How have you been, Mrs. Livingston?'' Lydia smiled.

''Offended! That is how I feel.'' Margaret blurted out with no hesitation.

''Offended? How come?'' Some might've found her straightforwardness intimidating, but not Lydia, as she smiled a little sarcastically letting Margaret know they were on the same level of frequency.

''Calling me Mrs. Livingston, how dare you.'' Margaret gave Lydia a playful side eye as she scooped Lydia's arm, keeping it hostage while dragging her towards the kitchen, ''What are we, strangers?!''

''Of course not.'' Lydia went along, ''Marge? Maggie?'' She played with her name jokingly.

''Oh, you!'' Margaret laughed, finally stopping in front of the kitchen counter packed with fresh ingredients, ''Tada!'' She spread her hands with the widest, most happiest grin.

''Sure.'' Lydia rolled up the sleeves immediately, ''What would you like for lunch?'' She began to go through the vegetables.

''No, not you silly!'' Margaret laughed, ''Us, together. I'll teach you our top secret family recipe, of course.''

''L- lucky me!'' Lydia had fully prepared to be responsible of the meal, maybe even assuming that people on their level of rich and success had little to no time to cook by themselves anyway, ''I shouldn't have assumed. I feel bad.''

''Perfect! Keep up the good work, I'll go and powder my nose real quick.'' Margaret took off her apron and left it tangling on the edge of the kitchen stool while Lydia kept cutting the sweet peppers. For a moment only the chopping of the knife hitting the board filled the room.

''You're enjoying this aren't you?'' Lydia asked, gazing up from the diligent work feeling the eyes all over her.

''Can't say I'm not..'' Dean answered while leaning against the counter, ''She would've scolded me already for cutting such uneven pieces, but for you it seems to be okay.'' He smirked.

''That's one of the perks of being a daughter-in-law.'' Lydia said mockingly yet it came out almost too naturally, making her spine shiver.

''True..'' Dean agreed just as naturally, although it did not seem to affect him one bit.

''But still.. Us living together. That'll be a test for sure.'' Lydia sighed somewhat defeated.