Arranged Marriage

Chapter 29

Graduation is tomorrow and Maya can't be more nerves.
After that it's two more weeks till she's Mrs Matthews.
She can't believe it and neither can Josh.
In a matter of two months they have been more close than ever.
And in August Raven turns one.
Everything is happening so fast and she can barely tell if she comes or goes.

Maya has been quite busy these past few days.
Maya has been running all over the place and of course she can't think of anything else besides the wedding.
But of course she has to think about so much more than just that.
She has to think about her graduation, the wedding, Raven's birthday, what she's gonna do as the future Mrs Matthews and so much more.
But for now she is set on tomorrow.

Maya is in Raven's room busy putting her to bed for her late afternoon nap when she hears the door opening.
It was the front door and soon she saw Josh.

"Hey," Josh said and gave Maya a kiss on her cheek.
"Hi. How was your day?" Maya asked.
"Quiet. Believe it or not. Coffee?"
"That will be wonderful. I'll be there in a sec," Maya said.

After Josh went out Maya stayed another five minutes to make sure Raven is asleep then she went in front.

"So tomorrow is your graduation. How do you feel?"
"Don't mention it. I have a hundred and ten things to do and I don't have nearly enough time," Maya said and sat down next to Josh.
"Just stop worrying. You'll be fine," Josh said.
"Not if your parents in-law are Allan and Amy Matthews. I've got ten messages from your mother asking about this and that and most is the same question. Where are you going to live after the wedding? What are your future plans? What's gonna happen to Raven when you and my son decide to have children?"
"Just give her time. She isn't used to the idea of a daughter in-law."

Maya just laughs as she shakes her head and Josh smiles.
He knows that what he said isn't completely true.
His mother has a daughter in-law.
Topanga and even though she won't admit it she likes having so many people in the family.

"Okay that might be a white lie."
"A white lie? Think more a bend of the truth," Maya said.
"Okay okay. But she'll get used to you. It just takes time," Josh said.

Maya looked down at her ring finger and sigh.
She knows that she has to tell Josh what is going on.
And now is that time.

"Have I ever told you about my father?" Maya asked.
"No," Josh said.
"I used to come home to him and my mom fighting. Was a routine. If not about how he is acting... It was because he was drunk. My father did drink and not lightly."

Josh looked at Maya while she told him the story.
Her face expression was like thé of a abused girl.

"Each time he was drunk he did something he shouldn't have. He got involved in a bar fight when I was two, crashed his brand new car in the neighbour's wall when I was four and before he left almost killed me and my mother," Maya said and Josh looked at her with confusion in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Josh asked.
"He got so mad when Mom spoke to him about its either alcohol or us. He got out his pistol. Aimed at Mom and shot her," Maya said and a tear escaped.
"I was running around. Being a child. Then because I was too loud he shot me as well. I was admitted to the hospital and after awhile I was discharged. Lucky not to be paralysed. That was the last time I saw my father. It was also when the police dragged him out of our house. We never saw him again," Maya said now with tears flowing down her cheeks.

Josh pulls her close to him and holds her tight.
She wasn't sobbing.
She wasn't screaming.
She was just....
Safe.
And she knew she could always be that way with Josh.
She just didn't know for how long.
Maya lifted her head up and brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes looking directly into Josh's.

"I love you so much," Maya said.
"I love you too," Josh said and gave Maya a kiss.

The kiss was soft but with so much passion she would want it to stay forever.
She would never want to leave and she would never want to escape from this wonderful dream.