Till Death Do We Part

Chapter Eight

"This filet mignon is phenomenal, Sienna!"

Elaine smiled and raised her wine glass in my direction, her coal-colored eyes dancing in the light of the candles scattered on the table. Like me, she wore a tight dress that showed her curves in a fiery red fabric, and her dark brown hair was pinned to the side in an elegant braid that cascaded well past her shoulder. Beside her, Elaine's husband John nods in agreement and forks the last of the potatoes into his mouth, wiping the corners of his lips with a napkin. His light-brown eyes land on his friend at the head of the table, and by the light of the candles his dark skin glows and dances with the shadows.

"You're absolutely right, dear. Joseph, you've caught yourself a fine young woman."

"You tell me that every time you come dine with us," Joseph says with a smile. I watch my husband as he winks in my direction and swallows the last of his wine, and before he can gesture to his empty glass I've already opened another bottle of red and began pouring it into his glass, like the dutiful wife he wants me to be.

"Thank you," he murmurs, and I can tell by the relaxing of his muscles he truly means it. Perhaps, if I'm lucky, he'll let me enjoy the creme brulee I slaved over.

Speaking of which...

"Are we all finished with dinner?" I ask, and when everyone at the table nods I quickly begin gathering up the plates and cutlery, taking them into the kitchen where I begin to wash them. From the dining hall, I hear Joseph announce that he's going for a smoke, and John quickly takes him up on the offer. I could hear the chairs being pushed back and their footsteps tap against the hardwood floor as they make their way to the backyard when I hear an additional set of footsteps approaching.

"You boys go on ahead," Elaine offers as Joseph and John stand waiting for her, "I'm going to help Sienna with the dishes and get myself another glass of wine."

Panicked, I turn to face the dark-haired beauty, feeling Joseph's fiery gaze burn into my flesh. "No, that's okay, Elaine. I can manage by myself. You don't have to help me."

"Nonsense!" Elaine says with a wave of the hand. She reaches for a plate to dry but I quickly stop her, my eyes pleading. A strange look crosses her face before she backs away. "Well," she continues after a moment of silence, "if I can't help you, I can at least keep you company. And help polish off that wine bottle. What do you say?"

I shoot a quick glance at Joseph, who, with the briefest of nods let's me know it was okay to have some company. I guess he was feeling extra generous tonight.

"Sure," I tell her, and as soon as I hear the door shut I let out a sigh of relief, uncurling my fists as I pull them out from underneath the hot, soapy water and wring my hands out on the dish towel. 

"You really don't have to stay," I say as I dry off the dishes and start putting them away. "You can go outside and socialize if you'd like."

Elaine shakes her head as I turn to look at her. "No. I'd rather check up on you."

My heart skips a beat and I almost drop the glass plate I was holding. "Wh--what?"

"Don't act stupid, Sienna, because I know you aren't. I know."

"Know about what? I'm sorry, I don't understand."

In a split second, Elaine is standing directly in front of me, her fingers tracing the spots where the bruises on my upper arms had begun to fade. Even with my heels on she was still several inches taller than me, her long legs giving her leverage against my scrawny, five foot one frame, and I found it hard not to be intimidated by her as she stared down at me with those mysterious, dark eyes of hers.