Chapter 11 A Strange Beginning
I sat on the bed for a long time after Carson left. I didn’t know what to think because everything felt strange.Starting from the way he talked, the way he looked at me and the way he avoided questions.
It was like he was trying to be nice but something about it didn’t feel real.
"I don’t understand this man," I muttered to myself.
While still thinking, my stomach made a little sound which made me realize I hadn’t eaten anything all day. I stood up and walked to the kitchen.
I opened the fridge and saw a plate of food wrapped neatly. There was a sticky note on it.
Eat this. It's best to relieve you from the stress and I don't want you falling sick……………..Husband Carson”
I stared at it for a while. I didn’t know whether to smile or frown.
"Is he being caring or is he just pretending?" I asked out loud.
I sat on the couch and began to eat slowly although I didn’t really like the food but I just had to take it.
As I chewed, I heard footsteps getting closer, so I looked up. It was Carson standing by the door with his hands in his pocket and with no smile.
"You're eating already," he said.
"Yes," I replied.
He came closer but stopped by the dining table, not too close to me.
"I asked the chef to make something soft. I remember you said your tooth hurts sometimes."He said.
"I don’t remember telling you that."I replied.
He paused.
"You didn’t. I just noticed it once."He said.
I looked at him but didn’t say anything.
He pulled a chair and sat, resting one arm on the table.
"So what do you think about staying here now?"He asked
"I don’t know," I said.
"So what did you think again?" he replied.
"I’m still trying to understand everything," I said.
He didn’t answer. He just looked at his fingers.
"I’m not trying to make things hard for you, Annabelle," he said after a long pause.
"You’re not making it easy either," I replied.
He smiled a little but it didn’t reach his eyes.
"You’ll get used to this place," he said.
"Maybe."I replied, rolling my eyes.
He looked around like he was bored, then stood up again.
"I have to go out. There’s a business dinner tonight,"He said.
"Okay."I said
He started walking away, then stopped again.
"You don’t have to wait," he said.
"I won’t," I answered quickly.
He nodded and walked out without another word.
The door shut behind him. I stared at the empty space.
"Business dinner," I said under my breath. "Right."
I finished my food slowly and cleaned the plate.
Then I walked around the house for a bit. It was too big for one person and even two.
Everything looked nice but nothing felt like home.
I saw a hallway I hadn’t gone through before. I walked down quietly.
There was a door at the end. I turned the knob and It opened into a small library.
Books lined the walls. A chair was in the middle. It didn’t look like anyone used it often.
I picked a book and sat down. I didn’t read. I just held it.
I stayed there until the sun went down.
Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned on the bed.
I looked at the clock. 11:23 PM. Carson still wasn’t back.
I stood up and walked to the window. The moon was full and bright and a few cars passed by, but not many.
Then I heard the front door open.I quickly left the window and sat on the bed, pretending I had been resting.
Carson walked in with his tie loose and his jacket in his hand.
"You're awake," he said.
"Yes."I replied
"Couldn't sleep?"He asked.
"No."I said.
He nodded and dropped his jacket on a chair.
"How was the dinner?" I asked.
"Boring," he replied.
I didn’t ask for more. He sat on the edge of the bed and took off his shoes.
Then he looked at me.
"You look tired."He asked.
"I am."I said.
"You should sleep."He said again.
"I’m trying."I replied.
There was a small silence again. He laid down beside me but didn’t come close.
We both stared at the ceiling.
"Do you regret coming here?" he asked.
I turned my head a little.
"Sometimes."I said, rolling my eyes.
He didn’t act surprised.
"You don’t even like me," I said.
He turned his head too, but his face didn’t show much.
"Who told you that?"He asked.
"You don’t act like someone who does."I said.
He sat up slowly.
"Annabelle," he said, "liking you or not is not the problem. Let’s just say I have my reasons for everything I do."he added.
"That’s not comforting."I said.
"I’m not trying to comfort you."he replied.
"So what are you trying to do?"I asked
He looked at me like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. He stood up instead.
"I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight," he said.
"Okay."I muttered.
He walked out without looking back.
I laid there alone, my thoughts spinning.
I closed my eyes and tried to force sleep, but it didn’t come.
The next morning, I woke up early. I didn’t know when I slept off.
I brushed my teeth and walked to the living room. No one was there.
I sat down and turned on the TV, but I wasn’t watching it.
After a while, I heard footsteps.
It wasn’t Carson.
A woman walked in. She wore a simple uniform.
"Good morning ma," she said.
"Good morning," I replied.
"My name is Cynthia. I do clean the house."she says again
"Okay."I said
"I can also help with anything you need."she added.
"Alright. Thank you."
She smiled and began cleaning quietly.
"How long have you been working here?" I asked.
"Three years."she replied.
"Do you live here?"I asked.
"No. I go home every evening."she said.
I nodded. I wanted to ask more, but I wasn’t sure what to say.
She didn’t talk again. She moved like she didn’t want to bother me.
I walked back to my room. On the bed, there was a little note.
Hope you slept well. There’s a driver downstairs if you want to go out today. Just let him know.
No name. But I knew it was from Carson.
I looked at the note again and again.
He was trying to control everything.