Memorial

Elaine's heart raced as she stood outside the door of the mansion. She hadn't been there in weeks, not since she had made the difficult decision to take a break from her husband, Richard.

The house was bustling with activity. The aroma of her father-in-law's favorite dishes filled the air, and Elaine's stomach churned with a mix of hunger and resentment. She had expected to help prepare the memorial feast,But as she surveyed the kitchen, she saw that Richard had taken charge of the meal preparation himself.

Her anger flared up like an uncontrollable flame. She had taken this break to create some space between them, to allow them both to breathe and reconsider their choices. Yet Richard seemed to be moving forward without her, as if her absence didn't matter. It felt like a slap in the face, a confirmation that he could do without her, both in the kitchen and in his life.

Suppressing her emotions, Elaine took a deep breath and approached Richard. "Do you need any help?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.

Richard glanced up briefly,

“No, I can handle this myself” he replied.

The icy tone in his voice only fueled her anger further.

"Are you sure you don’t need anything, I been doing this for quite some time now so I am familiar with it”

Richard sighed, his gaze shifting back to the cutting board. "I thought you were taking a break, why are you back?” He asked.

“I am but this is an important event so I thought I should be here to make the preparation, although I didn’t know you would do this yourself. When did you learn how to cook?

Is it just now, are you following a YouTube video?” She asked surprised that he was cooking himself.

“I know how to do a lot of things Elaine, why don’t you just wait in the living room and let me concentrate on this.

You must be tired from the journey to get here afterall it took you a lot to leave in the first place” he replied.

Elaine couldn’t quite understand why he was mean to her, she knew she needed a break from him because all he did was treat her like she didn’t exist but that did not give him the right to be so mean to her when he was at fault.

“What is wrong with you?” She asked.

“Nothing, I am busy” he said and turned his back facing the pot filled with water. He had chopped off every ingredient he needed to make the meal.

“Fine” she said angrily and stormed out of the room.

Once the door was shut, Richard’s face turned from anger to regret, he stared at the door holding a spoon in his hand.

After minutes of cooking she walked back him to help him set the plate in the dining room,

“You don’t need to help me, I have told you that before” he complained.

“I am not doing this for you, I am doing this for your father, this has nothing to do with you. He was a nice person to me and the least I can do is help in his memorial” she uttered.

Richard felt relaxed hearing her talk about his father, he may not have had a connection with her but his father was quite close with her.

“He was like a father to me” she sighed.

“He was a father to you, he was more of a father to you than me” he pouted his lips.

“Are you sulking over that, you know he loved you too” she tried to defend him.

“Ofcourse I know that, I am what I am today because of him” he answered.

“Yet you grew up to be nothing like him” She hissed.

“Are you complaining right now”

“Yes”

“Why, were you that eager to come back home and tell me how different I was from my father” he responded.

“Atleast you know that you are different from him, you are mean and cold and scary and a cold blooded…”

“Elaine” he yelled her name snapping her to her senses.

“I am very much aware of who and what I am, you don’t need to remind me but sometimes you should also check yourself. I don’t have to be the bad guy to you all the time” he said with so much bitterness.

“I’m sorry”

“Save it for yourself” he replied and pack the few things he could to the dining room.

Elaine stood there staring at the plate in her hand, she knew she had overstepped her boundaries when he yelled at her.

“Is it so hard to say the truth to your face” she asked herself then followed behind him to the dinning.

Mary had been waiting a while for the dinner,

“Oh Thank God” she sighed when saw Richard coming forward but when she saw Elaine, her face turned into a scowl.

The dinner began and they ate quietly until Mary began.

“Has Richard told you that we are building a park in memory of my husband, his father” she referred to Elaine.

“No, he hasn’t told me anything about that.

“Well I guess since you guys are separated he didn’t see the chance to tell you.

When are you coming back?” Mary asked.

Elaine stared at Richard but he was not bothered by their conversation, he sat quietly enjoying his food.

“I don't think I am coming back” she replied, anger soothing within her because he couldn't care less if she came back or not.

“She is back” he replied and they both looked at him but he didn't spare her a glance.

“No I am not” Elaine refused.

“You are”

“I am not, I have not gotten enough time to think” she answered.

“I have condoned your foolish act for a week but I will not anymore. You are staying in this house with us” he ordered.

“You don't get to decide for me, it is not like you care if I am home or not” she retorted.

The only reason she came back was because of the memorial, she had no intention of coming back so hearing him say that was a shock to her.

“I,

I don't care what you think but you are not leaving this house again, I have already sent my men to pack your things from Cassandra’s home” he replied.

“What the hell Richard” she sprung from her seat furious that he would make such a decision without informing her.

“I gave you two weeks, that is more than enough” he confirmed. His voice deep as he spoke, he reminded her that he had only agreed to two weeks of her stay and now that the time has elapsed, it was time for her to come back home.

“Elaine can I talk to you in private?” Mary requested interrupting their argument.

She led her to the kitchen where they could talk freely.

Once Elaine walked in, she received a slap to her face.

“Mother” she gasped in shock.

“How dare you talk back to him after the atrocity you have committed” Marry barked at her.

“Mother, you just slapped me” Elaine stood there still in complete shock.

“And I will slap you again. How dare you an adulterous woman return back to this house. Do you think I don't know what you have done” she said.

Elaine was confused by what she was talking about,

“What?

What are you talking about?”

“I know that you cheated on my son and instead of you feeling guilty, you decided to ask for space and you still have the nerve to come back to this house,” she said.

“I cheated”

“Don't you dare play dumb with me, I know exactly what you have done”

“Is that what he told you, he told you that I cheated on him?” Elaine asked to know where she got her biased part of the story.

“He doesn't need to tell me, I know the things that are happening in this house without being told” she answered.

“You are laying false accusations” She tried to defend herself but she was slapped again by Mary.

“Mother”

“Don't you dare call me that” she warned.

Standing by the door was Richard who had overhead everything from the minute he heard a slap but they were oblivious to him.

“Now listen to me you cheating woman, you will divorce my son this instant, I don't care if you have cancer or you have a year to live. I am not going to let you stain my sons image with your cheating ways” she warned.

“Mother”

“I said don't you dare call me that” she raised her hand to hit her but she was held by a strong grip.

“Richard” her eyes opened with shock.

“You will go into your room and pack your things and you will leave this house this instant” he ordered.

“What?” she tried to comprehend what he said.

“You have overstepped the line Mary and you will have to pay for it”

“Are you telling me, your mother to leave your house” she feared.

“Did I stutter?” he answered.

“Richard you don't need to do this” Elaine tried to stop him by touching his arm but he pulled off her hand and held it in his.

“I have warned you Mary never to bring up the word Divorce in this house but you wouldn't listen.

Leave woman” he ordered.

“You have some nerves talking to your mother that way, I am only trying to help you but this is how you treat me”

Tears flowed from her eyes as she gaze at him but Richard stood there with no remorse whatsoever.

“Leave”

“Fine, I will leave” she said and stormed out of the kitchen.

Richard slowly turned to Elaine then he cupped her face, accessing the mark on her face. He opened the fridge and pulled out bowl of ice.

“Put this on your face and you would be fine” he said then released her hand. Elaine felt lonely when she could no longer feel his touch, his warm hands reminded of the night they shared together.

Mary packed her things in a haste and walked towards the door where Richard was waiting for her.

“Are you really going to kick your mother out by this time of the night?” she asked crying to him.

“Yes” he said and shut the door after her.

Mary kept banging the door thinking he wouldn't do such a thing but he turned away to his study to continue his work.