The cab pulled to a stop in front of my home. The gate to my home is about a few steps away from the building, and I could hear laughter and cheering from where I was. My body shivered at the chills those voices sent down my spine. I could no longer bear my anger. They sounded like they were having a lot of fun, like a family reunion, and I felt so left out.
Maurice ought to pick me up from work, but for some reason best known to him, he didn't show up, and he didn't inform me about his absence. And if you agree with me, that alone is enough for me to pick up a fight with him the moment I step in. "Breath jasmine, breath.". I tried to calm myself before entering the house. I walked in to see them chatting and laughing, Mabel held Maurice's hand tightly like she would lose him if she let go. None of them noticed I was inside, they couldn't possibly hear me with their loud laughter.
My heart felt shattered, I thought I knew Maurice so well to be a sweet, loving, and selfless husband, but since Mabel got in the picture, I've seen a different version of him that left me in confusion. What could be happening between these two? I was lost in my thoughts. It was obvious something wasn't right, but I couldn't connect the dots. I leaned in closely to hear their conversation. Mabel mentioned that she flew in to celebrate my husband's birthday, and then it was done on me.
Maurice hadn't only left me to celebrate our anniversary all alone last night, he went to the airport to pick Mabel up, he never went to work, and he didn't come home either. At this point, I was going to scream, but instead, I walked closer to them.
"Hey, babe, you're back." Maurice tried to stand up to welcome me as I walked closer to them, but was held down immediately by Mabel. I stood still in front of them, controlling the rage I harbor.
"You know, mother, I didn't know Jasmine was Maurice's wife. I met her at the restaurant today, who could have thought Maurice would have settled for a common chef?" she laughed. I met Maurice's gaze with a concerned expression. His mother, on the other hand, just smiled at me. But I ignored it and turned to Maurice.
"Hmm, you didn't come to pick me up, and you didn't mention you won't be coming." I confronted him and he defended himself with a flimsy excuse.
"About that, I had to help Mabel settle in, and it took a while, sorry, babe. But hey, you're here now, right? That's all that matters." I didn't even know what response to give to such a ridiculous excuse he made.
Mabel glared at me with a cold, fake smile. And just then, a familiar voice echoed in my ears.
"Jasmine, it's so good to see you again, my dear." Maurice's mother, Helen, was around as well, but he hadn't mentioned anything to me about his mother coming over, too. The whole pressure was just too much for me to contain. I smiled at her and bowed. I was already too exhausted with work, so I left for my room.
I managed to drag myself to the bathroom, the warm shower graced me from head to toe, and I felt a bit relieved as I tried to release all the rage inside me. Doubts started kicking in about Maurice's feelings for me, about our marriage, about what he feels for Mabel, and tears dropped off my face, cohabitating with the water pouring down my body. I sat on the bathroom floor, sobbing, but I soon comforted myself and went back to join them for dinner.
Maurice's mum had made dinner for everyone. When I got to the dinning, Mabel was already sitting where I was suppose to sit, right beside Maurice, I wanted to object, but I feel no need to do so, I sat beside Maurice's mother facing Mabel directly, feeling like an outcast, I felt like scratching her eyes off as I watch her smile at Maurice. While we were eating, his mother kept talking and emphasizing how close Mabel and Maurice used to be when they were little.
" I remember when you two were little, and you would fight over the last piece of my homemade cookies; it was so hilarious. Mabel would slap your head, and you'd cry to me to report her." Helen referenced.
"That's why I like Maurice, he has always been such a sweet soul and gentle around women. You raised him well, mother." They laughed in uniform, and I just buried my head in my food and angrily poked my fork in while minding my business. I see nothing funny in what they are saying. Rather, it made me rage in my seat.
Whatever discipline I had had had to be the strongest because my body flushed hot with so much wrath, and I could tell my seat prayed to be liberated.
"Jasmine, my dear, I'd be so happy if you and Mabel also get along as one big happy family," Helen quoted. I felt irritated the moment she mentioned that. In my head, I already said, "over my dead body will that ever happen?". My eyes narrowed down to Maurice, who doesn't seem to see anything going wrong. I turned my gaze to Mabel, and she just tossed her usual cold smile at me.
We were done with food and left to clean up the space, Helen suddenly felt the urge to do the cleaning alone, so the three of us could get along. Mabel busted the silent, saying things I've never heard from Maurice before in our entire relationship. My instinct tells me she just wants to provoke me by saying all those unnecessary things.
"Maurice dear" she started "hmm." he responded
"Do you remember back then in highschool, you use to be so protective of me, oh, i love those days, you don't like to see me with other guys, you wanted me for yourself alone and i heard you chased them off behind me, that explains why those guys never talked to me again." she giggled and continued not giving Maurice a space to interrupt her.
" you remember you chased me for 20 solid years and begged me to marry you before i went to the state, you know, i feel bad for not accepting your proposal, i could be the one in place of jasmine right now, i can't understand why you had to settle for a mare chef with your status anyways. I mean, she's just a chef, you know."
I gritted my teeth and smeared my lips tightly. My whole body vibrates at what she just said my fist was clenched tightly by my side. I swear, it took so much control to not punch her in the face.
"Hum, Mabel, I think i should show you to your room its quite late and you need to rest from your arrival, you're carrying a baby remember?" his voice came out in a stutter and my jaw dropped with shock.