Page 2 of Dream Chaser

How much longer could I live this way?

Dread crept into my stomach. If I didn’t get back to the table soon, I’d never hear the end of it.

I splashed water onto the wine stain and rubbed the fabric. The stain only spread further. Whatever. I hated this shapeless dress, but it was a present from Donna, and Preston had insisted I wear it. Ruining it might be the best thing that had happened to me all day.

Letting out a resigned exhale, I stepped into the hall. My pulse faltered at the sight of my mom waiting for me.

“Nova,” she said in the same stern tone she’d used since I was a child. “You’re taking too long.”

I wiped my wet hands on the skirt of my dress. “Long enough for Preston to talk shit about me, or do you think he needs more time?”

Mom sighed, crossing her arms. “He’s not wrong. You’re almost twenty-six, and you’ve been married long enough. What are you waiting for?”

“I’ll be twenty-six in four months, and I’ve got nothing,” I choked out. No work experience, just my stay-at-home wife role I never wanted to play. No money. Mom was happy to live off the little money my father had left, but relying on Preston financially made me feel like a failure.

“Nothing?” Her eyes widened. “You’ve got a beautiful home, and you’re married to a respectable man who provides for you. What else can you possibly want? A successful marriage and motherhood should be every woman’s priority. Your father liked Preston.” Mom’s voice shook, and she reached into the pocket of her cardigan, producing a tissue a second later.

As she dabbed at her dry eyes, I bit my tongue until copper flooded my mouth. She always brought up Dad when things weren’t going her way.

Dad died before he could get to know Preston better. No way he’d be okay with how Preston treated me.

“Dad might have liked him, but he loved me,” I said. “Do you?”

Mom crumpled the tissue in her fist. “Preston was right. You’re being too dramatic. By the way, your husband’s waiting for you with an anniversary gift. Make sure to show your gratitude. Don’t make me look worse in front of Donna. She must already think I raised a lazy, spoiled woman. Would it have killed you to marinate that bird like I taught you?”

It was always about Donna’s opinion. Marrying her son was like winning the lottery, unless you were the one holding the ticket.

I clenched my jaw. “The chicken wasn’t dry. And I also have a gift for Preston.”

“A gift you bought him with his money. Don’t forget who puts food on your table.” Mom squeezed my forearm and walked toward the living room, leaving me no choice but to follow.

***

I handed Preston his gift. “Happy anniversary.”

“Thank you, wifey.” He smirked, pulling at the taped corner. The gold wrapping paper ripped, coming off in an uneven strip. As he opened the burgundy leather box with the Aeterno watch nestled on the velvet cushion, he raised his brows. “Wow. That’s…” He huffed, shaking his head. “How could you spend so much?”

Heat scorched my cheeks. He’d been telling me he wanted an Aeterno watch for months, and now it was suddenly too expensive?

“That’s a really nice watch, Son.” Donna took the box from his hands, pursing her lips. “But you’re right. It’s not the most sensible choice in today’s economy. You deserve the best, though. I’m sure that’s why Nova chose it.”

“Well.” Preston rubbed his palms together. “What’s done is done. It’s a good thing I was sensible. Happy anniversary, wifey.”

He nodded at a huge box on the floor by my chair.

My stomach roiled. Nothing I wanted would come in a box that big.

“Come on, open it,” Donna said. “It took us hours to wrap it.”

I tore off the edge of the red wrapping paper.

My throat tightened as if someone had wedged a rock inside it.

A vacuum cleaner? Was this a joke?

“It was half off,” Preston said while I stared at the box. “Mom noticed our place was looking dusty lately. She said this is a great model.”

A bitter laugh flew out of my mouth. “Well, thank you, Donna. It’s every woman’s dream. We should’ve gotten you one for your birthday. Ah, wait, Preston gave you a diamond solitaire necklace. It might not have been sensible in today’s economy, but Preston will always make an exception for you.”