Till Death Do Us Apart (Sequel to Forever Yours)

chapter eight

Chapter eight

“Are you ready Ronan?” Danielle called out.

“Yes mummy!” Ronan ran downstairs, wearing a blue shirt and shorts.

Danielle smiled. “Let’s go then.”

She picked Ronan up and walked outside. Today they were planning on going to Emma’s house for a chat. Ruth had asked Ronan to come to her house today, so that they could play with Ruth’s new toys. Danielle was more than glad to go to their house.

When they arrived, a sweet smell of muffins being baked filled the room. Danielle smiled as she whiffed the smell, knowing that this was the muffins that she had tried to make a few months back when Greyson came back from German.

“Oh, come on in!” Emma said, beaming. “Ruth is in the backyard. She’s waiting for you.” Emma said to Ronan.

Danielle smiled. “Thanks.”

She put Ronan down on the floor. Immediately he ran to the backyard.

Both Danielle and Emma laughed.

“Why don’t you come with me to the kitchen?” Emma offered. “ I have to take care of the blueberry muffins that I’m baking in the oven.”

Danielle nodded and followed Emma to the kitchen.

Emma pulled a chair and gestured Danielle into it. Danielle sat down.

“I'm sure you would like this.” Emma said smiling. “When I first met Nelson, my husband, he had just one bite of this muffin before falling head over heels for me.”

Danielle laughed. “That’s romantic.”

“Well, I guess a muffin couldn't last forever, couldn’t it?” Emma smiled weakly.

“I'm sorry for you.” Danielle said, patting Emma softly on the shoulders.

“It’s okay.” Emma said.

 “When did you guys divorced?” Danielle asked, looking around the kitchen.

“Just a few months back, I think. It feels like a very long time already.” Emma said, trying to remember.

Danielle swallowed hard worriedly.

“But well, the longer I live with him the more I realize all the non-equivalent we have between us. Like whatever I like, he would just loath it. Turns out a muffin couldn't hide all that.” Emma said, forcing a laugh, holding up a muffin that just came out of the oven.

“It must be hard for you.” Danielle said sympathetically. “How about Ruth?”

“Well, she could cope with it.” Emma said, raising a shoulder. “Nelson never really liked her. Always thought she was a pest.”

Danielle took a  glance at Ronan who was playing happily with Ruth.

Emma took out the tray of muffins out of the oven. Danielle smiled.

“That looks good.” She said, licking her lips.

Emma laughed. “If you like, I could give you the recipe.”

“Nah, don’t bother. I have it already.” Danielle smiled. “ I made it once and it turned out into a lump of hard coal.”

Emma laughed again.

“Well, maybe you set the timer wrong?”

Danielle nodded.

“Maybe you can get Greyson to help you with that?” Emma said, popping a tray of cranberry muffins into the oven. “Nelson used to help me when we first got married.”

“I don’t think he would want to do that.” Danielle said with a sigh.

“Why is that?”

“I think he’s turning into Nelson too.” Danielle finally said, how much she wanted to hide that piece of info.

Emma took off her cooking gloves and lay it on the counter top.

“Tell me.” Emma said sitting down on a chair next to Danielle.

Danielle heaved another sigh.

“It’s just that, he used to be so loving, so caring. Now he just think I'm a burden.” Danielle paused, swallowing a lump of sadness in her throat.

 “Everything I tell him would be just a burden, everything I like he would hate. He doesn’t care about Ronan, never checkup on him, never said anything to him.” Danielle continued.

“At some point I'm starting to doubt his love toward me.” A tear fell down Danielle’s eyes. She has been holding down this feeling for so long, and finally getting to lift it was such a relief.

Emma squeezed Danielle’s shoulder softly, trying to comfort her.

“And without Charlotte next to me, I feel like I'm a total mess. I feel like marrying Greyson is a big mistake.”

Emma hugged Danielle. Immediately Danielle broke down.

“Hush, hush.” Emma said. “Don’t be. There are times like this that comes in a  marriage. There always will be. Just you have to be strong and try to find something in common that you both would like. Try doing it frequently, and maybe you’ll turn out right.”

Danielle said nothing.

“I couldn't find a likeness between me and Nelson, and divorcement was the only thing that I have in mind. But don’t give up hope yet. You can still save your marriage.”

Danielle sniffed. “Thanks for the advice. I really need it. Without anyone by my side, I'm starting to lose myself.”

“Well, pull yourself together again okay? Greyson might have something bugging him.  Know that cause I have witness your love life with Greyson for a long time already and I know his love toward you is pure love.” Emma said smiling softly.

“He loves you, only when you are married, he might feel awkward to tell you that. Sometimes men when they finally have their love life with them, knowing they don’t have to fight for us anymore, they show less of their affection. Not that they don’t love us.”

Danielle nodded.

Suddenly the timer went off. Emma put her gloves back on and opened the oven. Sweet, savory smell filled the room, lifting Danielle’s spirits.

“I think you should try this at home. Maybe Greyson would like it.” Emma suggested.

Danielle smiled. “Maybe.”

Ronan came into the kitchen along with Ruth.

“Mummy Ronan said he was hungry.” Ruth said pointing to Ronan.

“Ronan!” Danielle scolded. Emma laughed.

“That’s okay.” She held out a muffin to Ronan, who took it greedily.

Both Danielle and Emma laughed.