The Kidnapper's Wife

20. Before

The thing about clothes, is that you never know when you might want to wear them again. I mean sure, these overalls aren't in style now, but in five years, they might just be the next big wave of nineties comebacks. And if I don't have them, I'll think back longingly to this moment as the one where I gave up my chance of being stylish. And yeah, this shirt hasn't fit me since college when I gained the freshman fifteen, but first of all, I could always belt it or tie it up to fit better, and anyway what if I gain back the weight and then I've thrown away everything that might have fit me? You just never know when your decision to donate could come back to haunt you.

I look at the half trash bag full of clothes to donate on the floor. It sits next to a pile twenty times its size of clothes to keep. And a slowly diminishing stack of clothes to go through beside it. Sighing, I call out to Connor, "Can't we just build you another closet instead?"

Laughing, he walks into the bedroom, unsurprised by the mess of clothes overtaking the space. All of the colors are vaguely reminiscent of the finger paintings by the kindergarteners that hang in the hallways of the local elementary school, a swirl of bright blues and dark reds, pale pink bursts and denim heaps.

"I see much progress is being made," Connor jokes, walking over to the 'to be sorted' pile, "Is this the donation offering?"

"No!" I screech, catching sight of my Vera Wang evening dress in the pile to be sorted and rushing over to grab it as if Connor is going to throw it all out this instant.

"This is the 'to be sorted' pile." I inform him grouchily.

Connor tilts back his head in an all-encompassing laugh.

"Is it now? So then I suppose this sad little bag is what you've decided to give away?"

I hang my head in slight embarrassment. "Connor I need all of this stuff! Some of it is business formal, some business casual, some everyday casual, some dressed up casual, some just dressed up, some going out, some fancy, some gym clothes, some pajamas, and when you take into consideration all four seasons for each category..."

"Okay, okay I get it, you have a need for an exorbitant wardrobe." Connor puts his hands up in defeat, "I'll tell you what, I noticed you have some space down in the spare bedroom down in the basement."

"Have you checked the closet?" I say doubtfully, hating to burst his bubble, but feeling the need to be realistic.

"No not in the closet, you have some space in the actual room. What if we go to the furniture store and buy a wardrobe or two and a dresser, and I'll keep my stuff down there. There's a bathroom down there too, so I can just get completely ready down there in the mornings."

I look up at him hopefully, praying this isn't too good to be true. "Really?!"

"Really." Connor smiles and kisses the top of my head.

"Have I told you I love you lately?" I say into his shoulder.

"Told me? Probably. Shown me? Eh..."

I dissolve into a fit of laughter as he throws me on top of all the clothes and starts kissing me.

Connor and I have been dating for a full year now. Sometimes I honestly feel like I'm living someone else's life. There is no way I could have been allowed to get this lucky. Connor is everything I ever wanted in a guy. If I could have made a wish list, he would have checked off every point. All my friends love him. My family adores him. We have a busy life full of traveling, spending time with friends and family, eating at our favorite classy restaurants in town, watching all our Netflix shows together, and treating each other to over the top gifts whenever one of us accomplishes anything at all.  We rarely fight, and when we do, it's over quickly. So all things considered, it seemed like the logical next step to move in together.

Since Connor's downtown apartment bachelor pad would have been a little small for the two of us, we decided to move him into my single family home. The truth is he was practically living here already, and it was starting to become inconvenient for him to be forever stopping by his place for clothes and toiletries. So we sold his place, and the moving trucks are officially headed my way in two days. I've been trying to make space for Connor, so that he'll feel like this is his home now too, but after living alone for such a long time, it's hard to depart from my set way of living. I don't think Connor minds too much though, he always says he loves the way I've decorated my house.

At the furniture store, Connor immediately gravitates toward an imposing, dark wooded wardrobe, with over the top embellishments. It reminds me of something Belle would have found in the Beast's castle. Wrinkling my nose, I walk over to a simpler white one. "What about this one?"

"Connor barely glances at it before turning back to the monstrosity in front of him, "I like this one."

I walk over to stand beside him. "But it's so...it's so...large."

"Well Jade, I know you think you're the fashionista of the two of us, but I do actually have quite a collection of clothes." He jokes.

I don't laugh. "I'm just not sure that would really fit with the vibe of-

"The vibe of the spare bedroom in the basement that you never use? Come on Jade all you have in there is a pull out couch."

I frown, knowing he's right. "It's just not really my style." I eye the wardrobe up and down distastefully.

Connor turns to face me. "Jade, be reasonable here. I'm moving my clothes to the basement so that you don't have to make space for me in your closet. And, if we're going to live together, we have to compromise on some things. Considering you've literally had one hundred percent of the input on every other piece of furniture in the house, don't you think I deserve just this one thing?" he pauses to take in my unhappy expression, "No one will even see it anyway! When was the last time you even went in there?"

An hour later, I'm scowling as I watch the delivery men unload the three piece mammoth of a furniture set into the driveway. Shaking my head, I vow to never enter the room they will stand in, on principle. Connor stands next to me, eyeing the delivery men with approval. After a minute, he clears his throat and turns to me. "You know Jade, I was thinking, do you ever even work from home?"

"Well...no. Why?"

"Since I work from home pretty often, I was wondering how you would feel about me taking over the office."

"Uh...yeah I guess you can use it. I never really even go in there."

"Excellent! I saw this great desk set that matches the wardrobe at the store."

"Wha-" I turn to protest but Connor has already disappeared back inside, no doubt already calling the store to get them to send over the desk right away.