“Don’t look at me like that. I blame Ares for not giving you the kind of dream ceremony every girl deserves. Eloping in Vegas? With none of us there to witness and bless the union? Did you get married by an Elvis impersonator?”
I giggle. “No. Sinatra.”
She leans forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Was he good?”
“Good at officiating. Not singing.” I laugh and shake my head, remembering.
“See? That’s exactly what I mean. Ares doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.” Despite the rebuke, affection fleets in her gaze. “But in spite of that, he’s a good boy. A good man.”
“You care for him,” I say softly.
“I love him. He isn’t a child born of my womb, but he’s a child of my heart. So are Bryce and Josh. I married so far from home, and couldn’t have children of my own, but I regret nothing.” She reaches into her purse and takes out a navy box with discreet silver embossing on the cover. “Here.”
“What is it?”Oh, no. Was I supposed to bring something?I open the lid. Inside the box is a stunning set of pearl jewelry: earrings, necklace and bracelet. The white orbs are so flawless and lustrous, they seem to glow as though they harbor pieces of the moon inside. “I can’t possibly accept them.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s a set from my mother, and I always wanted to hand it down to my daughter-in-law. Generation to generation, woman to woman. I hope you can make Ares as happy as he makes you.” Her smile is more brilliant and precious than the pearls she gifts me.
Guilt builds in my heart. Although Ares and I are technically wed, our marriage isn’t real in the way Akiko clearly imagines. Not only that, I plan to divorce him within six months so he can have the ideal wife he told me about. The kind of woman who keeps busy, doesn’t bother him too much and can share occasional dinners and bear him children who are smart enough to get into some fancy law school. Although I told him I was open to giving him kids in Vegas, it was out of fear he might dump me. I’ve never had regular periods—maybe because of the slow poisoning and all that. Actually…
Now that I think about it, the last time I had my period was almost a year ago. The realization is vaguely depressing and enraging. My body might recover, but it may never function correctly, denying me an opportunity to have children of my own.
Doris and her family owe me so much.
If Akiko notices my slightly blue change of mood, she doesn’t show it. She has me try on the clothes—which I do, careful toavoid showing her my bare back—and asks me to slip on the shoes that seem to match my outfit the best, then coos like she’s the one shopping. “You’re so beautiful—everything looks amazing on you! Why don’t we pair that with this cute belt?” She picks up a thin, faux-croc-skin belt that looks perfect with the lacy chartreuse dress I’m in. “I knew it!” She turns me toward the mirror. “Look how adorable you are!”
I flush with pleasure. It’s almost like I’m her real daughter, one she can’t dote on enough.
Wistfulness sends a ripple through me. What if my parents hadn’t passed away so long ago? I could’ve had something like this with my mom. And with my parents’ protection, I would’ve been able to lead a normal life—hang out with friends, eat whatever was in front of me without feeling like I might die from it, and date some hot guy then share every detail with my friends in breathless excitement. Things I’ve only seen on TV and YouTube videos could’ve been part of my life.
My grandfather often told me how much Mom loved me and wanted to care for me for the rest of her life. Akiko feels like somebody my mother sent to love me.
Unable to suppress the sudden surge of emotion, I hug her. “Thank you. You’re the best.”
She laughs, her face bright with joy. “So are you.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you today. I… You’re just wonderful.” I smile, blinking hard to avoid spilling tears.
“So are you, sweetie.” She tucks my wayward tendrils behind my ear with a smile.
But my warm feelings turn to a sort of horror when she has Juliette charge everything to her account.
“Oh, no. No, no, no. Ares gave me his card!” I say, shocked. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bought so much.
“If he wants to buy you something, he can come himself and swipe his plastic.” She winks. “It’s a mother-in-law’s prerogative to spoil her daughter-in-law.”
* * *
Akiko has all the items delivered to Ares’s house, then heads to Huxley & Webber to meet Prescott for a lunch date. It’s apparently something she does to keep things interesting.
“You should try it,” she says. “Romance is like a flower. You have to nurture it or it will wither and die.”
I wave as she gets into her Maserati. She’s such a force to be reckoned with, but I know her advice doesn’t apply to me. Ares and I are going to be done with each other soon. From little hints here and there, it seems like our marriage has something to do with his promotion. So okay, he chose me, but that doesn’t mean he has to stay with me forever. He made it crystal clear that I don’t fit him. He only did his best with sex because it was part of our deal—and because he wanted to make a point last night.
I inhale and exhale deeply to expel the negative emotions. They serve no purpose.
Besides, I should look at the bright side. Soon I’m going to be free of my shitty relatives and be in charge of sixty billion dollars. There is so much I haven’t been able to do—and probably won’t be able to do because it’s too late—like going to classes, making friends in school and going to dances and sporting events.
But there’s a lot I still can. Travel the world. Do more art because I enjoy it. Maybe learn to cook from a master chef in Thailand because I always wanted to cook something exotic and interesting. On the way I might even meet the love of my life, a man who doesn’t think I’m not a suitable wife and doesn’t mind that I have eccentric habits and needs. He might even consider them charming, rather than look at them like flaws he had to tolerate in order to be with me.
