Chapter Two- The Text

Vanessa's point of view

"Well you'll marry my son of course"

Elizabeth Thorn had only one child, only one son. I heard from my elder sister gossips about how she had to have her uterus removed because she bled too much when she had him. Also heard from the same sister that was why she wouldn't let us go close to our brother.

Those were gossips.

"You do remember my son, don't you?" She asked. She was watching me closely now and I felt naked, like she could read through me and know my thoughts.

"How could I forget" I answered, my tone bland and dull.

I took my seat back because my head was spinning around the possibility of having everything I always wanted handed to me on a silver platter but with the side attraction of getting married to her son.

I leaned forward "Your son is certainly attractive enough, why can't he get married to whomever he wants without your help. I've seen his pictures with the models and actresses and even the girls that are way below his level" I whispered to her.

I didn't even know why I was whispering, perhaps my brain didn't want me to speak louder than that because I was scared the opportunity to make my family better would be taken away.

Elizabeth's expressionless face turned into a grimace before going back to its default settings.

"You know Anthony" She started, she placed her hands on the table and sighed "Anthony is difficult and I don't know if this is the only way I could get him to get a wife and.." She clenched her fist "Vanessa, this won't be forever"

My ears perked up at the fact that the marriage won't be forever. A contract marriage then, only in paper and with children to show for it but without any real commitment.

"How long would it last then?"

"I haven't thought about the technicalities yet but when I do, I'll inform you"

I snorted "You haven't told Anthony about this yet, the fact that he would have to leave his Playboy era and suddenly become responsible for some years and even get a child" I said like I got it all figured out but in reality I was scared of what this could mean.

The blush spread from her cheeks and I was sure it reached her neck but that was the only sign she gave that indicated I was right.

"When I have sorted out the techni....."

"Uhm excuse me, who are you"

Mary. Mary, my fucking roommate that I had forgotten even existed because of all my problems. Mary, who just got her heart broken and went to the bathroom for.... I checked the time discreetly..twenty four minutes.

Elizabeth got up from the chair as if Mary was what she needed to get out of here, she gave me this look that made me know I wasn't to disclose whatever we discussed here to anyone. I knew the look very well, I had grown up having her as someone to look up to.

"I'll see you on Monday, don't be a stranger" She said before she left.

Mary watched her go before turning her attention back to me. She took her seat back and I noticed that every trace of a tear or makeup had been wiped clean evenly this time.

"Who's that?" She asked straight to the point.

I rolled my eyes "Some marketing agent hoping to recruit me into their new firm" I started whispering so she would think it was some sort of juicy secret "And from what she described, I think her firm is crashing and she needs help to get it going"

Mary laughed, no longer high pitched so I guessed she was okay now. She looked better now too.

And with her short attention span, she should have a new conversation topic for the both of us in the next few seconds.

"Guess what happened in the bathroom" She said, giggled out her words "Met this man who gave me the best twenty minutes of my life"

"What?"

She giggled again "And I'm going home with him for the continuation of our little situation, would you be able to get home on your own safely?" She looked concerned at the end like she couldn't risk leaving me.

I placed my hands on hers "I'll be safe, go have fun" I told her to relieve her nerves.

She looked particularly giddy and I was happy for that, thankfully that tinder guy wasn't going to completely ruin her day. I watched her pack her things, gave me a kiss on the cheek and rushed forward to meet a guy I couldn't quite make out in the crowd.

She must have shouted something at me but I did not get it. I'll ask her later.

No one even noticed when I slipped out of the bar and Elizabeth was far gone when I got out. I thought about the possibilities of what could happen if this plan went through. The fact that I could see my brother again made me particularly giddy.

Victor was nine when mom ran away and dad continued spiralling out of control. He was already on drugs but my mom running away started the process of our fall from grace. I was eighteen at that time and my elder sister Victoria was twenty and already in college. Elizabeth had taken Victor because he was a minor and she claimed mom had given him to her before she left, she claimed we would not be able to take care of our own younger brother.

She showed us everything our mother wrote in her letter and the contract she signed.

At first, we were allowed to visit him but as the months progressed and before the end of the first year, we were shut out completely.

I completely forgot I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about this meeting. I brought out my phone and texted Victoria the good news while struggling to open my door.

'Guess what Vicky'

The message delivered and then the three dots that showed she was typing appeared, it disappeared again and appeared.

"What happened? Hope it's good news. The Lord knows I deserve some good news at this point"

"We might have a chance to see Victor again"

Five seconds. One minute. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Thirty minutes. An hour.

I was already in my pajamas getting ready for bed when her text came back.

"Don't have delusions that we're going to see him Vanessa, it's been six years already. And don't text me until I text you"

And she sent the calls I made to voicemail without even trying to hear what I got to say.

I got into bed and dreamt about a time when everything was okay and mom was still there.

*******

The next day wasn't much better for me. A Saturday and I hadn't the faintest idea how I wanted to spend the day or what I even wanted to do if I managed to get out of bed.

A text from Mary jolted me up and gave me the strength I needed to get out of bed that morning.

It read.

"Had the most amazing time of my life, stop being a prude Vanessa and start going out more"Mary

I laughed at her words. She is one to talk.

"You literally just started going out yesterday, no need to start giving me advice about prudeness" Me

Delivered. Typing. Sent.

"I'm not talking about dating, I'm talking about casual sex" Mary

"How would you feel about marriage?" Me

I didn't even understand why I sent that message until I sent it. But I knew the answer she would give even before she sent it. And I was correct.

"Marriage is tying me down and I do not want to be tied down, I need to be free" Mary

"Free as a bird?" Me.

There was no reply after that and I assumed she had gone elsewhere, to continue her frolicking or whatever it is she was doing in the one night stand's house.

I fell back to the bed while bits and pieces of the events of yesterday flooded my brain. Elizabeth Thorn, dressed in a beautiful emerald green gown. The gown probably brought out the green in her hazel eyes but I hadn't realized because I was too busy wondering why she was there.

And she told me. But it was something that I didn't want to dwell on for a long time.

She wanted me to get married to her son and I would get everything I ever wanted. And the marriage wasn't even forever, I would probably get a divorce and all I had to do was have a child.

My head spun as I thought about the possibilities, the things I would get and make sure I kept. It won't be like the last time and Elizabeth would never best me this time.

I was going to be stronger and wiser and more crafty this time.

Picking up my phone this time, I decided to do something I had been dreading doing for years. Something I could never do after what happened last time.

I texted Anthony Thorn.