A wife for my brother

– Thanks Deanna for being with me I had a great time! –

– Yeah, baby… I’m glad – But her smile was barely visible.

– Are you all right? –

– Of course! Just a little tired… Your dad must be waiting up for us-

And so it was, Daniel stayed up to wait for them, he wanted to see them arrive. Naomi came in so happy, she hurried to greet him and give him a kiss before going to bed. But Deanna looked strange.

– Are you all right? –

– Yeah… let’s go to sleep –

But the night did not change her look, she was quiet and thoughtful during breakfast. While the girl told everything she had experienced at the party. It didn’t take Daniel long to realize that something was wrong, but he would wait for Deanna to tell him what it was. He didn’t want to overwhelm her with questions.

Spending the day alone in the house wasn’t helping her. Why did she have to worry so much about what Alice had told her? Was that how they saw her? Was it really affecting Daniel? But she was doing nothing, purposely taking extra care of herself so she wouldn’t make excuses for anyone. She would definitely trade this new life for her old one, she’d rather deal with having to juggle work and school at the same time and not have to feel like this. Feeling like a burden. Those people were never going to accept that Daniel had married her, they were never going to accept her.

It was such a cold world. One conversation with Reed was enough to transform her into an “ambitious slut.” But she wasn’t as worried about that as she was about the other thing: “You’re ruining Daniel’s reputation.” She could take care of herself; she’d dealt with this kind of situation when she was first starting out in school. Coming from a small restaurant apparently offended some people’s sensibilities. But she didn’t care and just carried on.

Things were different now, it was no longer about what they thought about her, it was about what they thought about Daniel. How was it that everything was turned upside down for her? Deanna loved him, loved him so much, so much that she believed every word Alice had said to her. Camila too? What about Harry, could it be possible that he saw her that way too and that was why he was angry with her? They hadn’t spoken to each other again since her birthday, he avoided her.

She felt a huge urge to see and talk to her friend again. He missed him so much. The pangs of grief grew in her as she thought of him, that too changed in her life: Harry no longer thought of her as the “mighty Dean”. All those times they stayed up until the wee hours of the morning while he tried to comfort her when she broke up with Frank; when they went out together with Laura in the evenings to drink at the corner stall, or the three of them got up early to help Harry prepare for an exam. She wanted to see him so much!

She didn’t think much more about it and went to the company. At least if she could fix the things that were wrong with him she would stop feeling so… sad.

Harry wasn’t expecting her, it was a surprise somewhere between pleasant and depressing.

– Hi Deanna, what are you doing here? – He said to her when she entered his office.

– I’m sorry, are you busy? –

– No, I’m not.

– I’m sorry… I miss my friend Harry… –

But he didn’t answer her, he couldn’t. Nothing he could say to her and her heart ached.

– I’d better go, I’m sorry… –

– No Deanna! Forgive me… stay –All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

He had told himself many times that he would no longer react to her presence, that he would be indifferent. But he couldn’t do it, seeing her seemed to be all he needed to warm his soul again.

– Why are you angry with me, Harry? –

Because I love you and you’re sleeping with my brother.

– I’m sorry, it was hard for me to accept that you’re with my brother.

– You think like them, too.

– Like who? –

– Yesterday I went with Naomi to a meeting with her friends and Leonard Reed’s wife was there… She said some things to me… I think opportunistic and manipulative was the mildest –

– She said that to you?! She’s a bitter woman, she lives with the stigma of having an asshole and vulgar husband… But, Deanna, I don’t think that way about you, I never have…

– Then what’s the matter? –

– I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt, Deanna. Daniel is very peculiar and I know he’ll hurt you sooner or later… I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you –

One more lie, you coward.

There was a knock on the door. It was Laura.

-Deanna…

– Laura! How are you? Look how my nephew has grown! –

– It’s a niece- the mother announced.

– Oh my God! A girl! That’s great! –

– Yes… – Laura grabbed her belly with one hand and looked at her husband who looked away.

– Let me take you to lunch to celebrate the news… if you don’t have any other plans… –

– Actually… – Laura began, but Harry cut her off immediately.

– Sure! Let’s all have lunch together… just like in the old days

Beverly was right. She had been going to the office to meet him for lunch for months and always had an excuse. Deanna made it in less than a minute. Suddenly she felt like a third wheel, no longer Harry’s wife. She had her daughter growing inside her, but it wasn’t enough, if this kept going she would end up alone. She took Beverly’s advice: stay out of it for the moment, what sense was there going to be in opposing what Harry wanted?

Deanna glowed again, getting back a piece of her life before Daniel, the old days, made her feel better. Getting her friends back was what she needed at that moment. She walked out with Laura on her arm and Harry trailing behind, trying to hide the smile it caused him to see her again.

But Laura couldn’t keep quiet while they ate, she asked about Daniel in front of Harry. If she felt like a stranger between them, he must feel the same.

– How are things going with my brother-in-law, Deanna? –

Deanna hesitated a bit to answer, looked at Harry, but her face was placid.

– Fine, fine… Much better than before –

– That’s good! He finally lowered his temper a bit, that man. You can tell he’s changed since you’ve been together… I’m so happy for you –

– It’s easy to get along with him… at least most of the time –

– Sure, Daniel’s a little temperamental, but he’s a great person… I heard you took Naomi to her friend’s party… –

– She ran into Alice Reed – Harry told her.

– Oh! Poor Alice…

– There’s nothing poor about that woman, she’s extremely unpleasant –

– But Harry, you can’t blame her. Her husband’s… attitudes made her like that… –

– Don’t excuse her, Laura. She should at least have the dignity to leave him, they’ve been married for 25 years and the guy has always been like that -.

Would that be the same for her? Laura couldn’t help but understand Alice a bit, she also had a husband who didn’t love her. She didn’t say anything else, Deanna noticed the tension.

-Let’s not talk about that… better tell me, do you already have a name for my niece? –

– No – Harry answered.

– I’ve been thinking of a few, but we haven’t decided yet.

– You have time, but hurry up… So I can prepare a special gift –

Harry was strangely calm; it was different when Daniel wasn’t there. So, alone with her he could leave behind the thoughts that tormented him when he imagined her with his own brother. He didn’t go back to the office that day, he didn’t care about anything but being able to spend a few more hours with her, until Deanna said goodbye because she had classes.

Laura had to pretend in front of her husband. It was so obvious, more and more so, and it was becoming unbearable. At one time she thought Harry would go back to his old self eventually, but she would never have his sweet, tender love back.