Liking you was my choice.

Jackson pursed his lips. He didn’t know whether to believe or not. He had also read about rebirth and reincarnation in ancient texts…. But they were all myths…. No one had ever reported or seen anyone proof.

“I don’t want you to make a hasty decision.” Mira smiled. “I will give you a small proof.”

Jackson raised his eyebrows skeptically; it would be a lie to say that his interest was not aroused.

“Give me the parchments, unlock the door and hide behind the curtain. Don’t make a sound.” Mira’s lips hooked up with a knowing smile “If I am not mistaken, Jason should be coming in anytime. He will come in apologizing for all the pain he put me through.”

Jackson felt that her smile was becoming brighter and more charming. He stared half dazed in her smile.

“He will pretend to be very happy when I tell him about you agreeing to null the marriage but then become sorrowful as he tells me that this was not right time and that he finally has a chance to be appointed as one of the advisors at the royal court. The pre-requisite was that there were no scandals. He is one among the 10 men who were selected from the 100 applicants across the country.”

“Now… go….” Mira waved her hand as she heard the footsteps nearing in from the outside. Jackson was naturally curious, his legs walked uncontrollably to the full-length curtains that she pointed after unlocking the door.

Jackson could hear his heartbeats as he waited patiently by behind the curtain. He wished that what she said was true and there were no more schemes. He had been tricked by her one too many times!

The door opened and Jason walked in just as Mira had said.

“My dear Mira….” Jason rushed up to the bed she was lying. Mira lowered her eyes to hide the hatred burning in her eyes.

“You have suffered…. Suffered greatly.” Jason’s voice wavered “My dear Mira…”

“Don’t worry. All of this will come to an end soon.” Mira adjusted her emotions and raised her head with a smile and waved the parchment with the agreement in front of him “Look… look Jason…He has agreed to null the marriage and signed it. All I need to do is sign and then submit to the office.”

“That’s great.” Jason leaned forward in excitement “Oh my God! This is great!” However, the excitement didn’t last long. He lowered his head with a sorrowful gaze.

“What happened?” Mira asked anxiously even though her lips curled up in a corner that he couldn’t see.

“Nothing…. Nothing….” Jason waved his hand trying to make her believe it wasn’t important, but he still tactfully revealed to her like she had previously told Jackson slowly coaxing her to temporarily give up on the idea of divorce.

Mira pretended to be sad and acquiesced.

Jason left shortly after promising to not make her suffer for much longer.

Jackson came out from behind the curtain after the door opened and closed.

“Tell me, should I sign this?” Mira looked at Jackson “If you want more time….”

Jackson took the papers from her hand and tore them before she could complete.

“Huh?? Why???” Mira felt stunned although this was the result she was hoping for.

“You never tricked me into believing you liked me. You have always made your choice clear. Liking you was my choice.” Jackson smiled as he stared into her eyes. “I have never regretted it. I think you might know it since you know about the choice, I made in the lifetime you spoke about.”

Mira smiled brightly towards him for the first time.

“Let’s forget the past and live in the now and tomorrow. What do you say?” Jackson hooked his eyebrows. He couldn’t believe his luck. He never thought that he would have the fortune of being the recipient of her brilliant smile…let alone have a life together.

“No.” Mira refused; Jackson frowned but his frown straightened as he heard the rest of her words.

“I have lives to cherish and protect.” She raised her head and stared unflinchingly into his eyes “But I will never leave you unless you don’t want me anymore or you betray me.”

“Me not wanting you…” Jackson smiled “Will never happen.”

“Um” Mira smiled happily as Jackson sat next to her on the bed. She lowered her head shyly; she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.

“Hur… hur… hur…” Jackson chuckled as he saw her shy appearance, but he didn’t have the heart to tease her anymore “I won’t force you till you are willing.”

“I am willing.” Mira spoke softly without raising her head after sitting silently for a few minutes. Jackson pulled her gently into his embrace as he got her assurance. She snuggled in his embrace calming her excited heart, even though they had been married for 3 months in this lifetime and a year in the previous one, this was the first time they were this close willingly.

The rest of the morning went uneventfully; A few hours later after the healer came and checked her. She told them to go home. Jackson took her back to their manor in the countryside.

“Can I visit my parents?” Mira asked hesitantly once they settled down.

Jackson’s hands paused for a second before he continued to put the clothes they bought back from the healer’s rooms in the basket for washing.

“I didn’t think I would ever have the fortune of seeing them again.” Mira continued without noticing Jackson’s abnormality.

“Okay.”  Jackson walked forward to leave the room with the basket. It was a common occurrence in this era to take the clothes to a river if one had the fortune to have one close-by for washing and bathing.

“Great.” Mira clapped her hands happily “I will wait for you to come back.”

“You want me to come with you?” Jackson’s footsteps paused as he turned around in shock. You can’t blame him for being shocked. Mira never invited him to go back to her home with him. It was with good reason; going home was always a cover for her to meet up with Jason.

“Otherwise?” Mira knitted her eyebrows but soon pouted as she realized his abnormality and muttered “Who said that they would forget the past and start anew?”

Jackson’s lips curled up; he left the basket and ran to her side feeling guilty “Wife, I am sorry.”

Mira did want to kick up a fuss but the feeling of being called wife felt novel and sweet. She knew the address came from the bottom of his heart and no longer bothered with his previous misunderstanding. She also knew her behavior over the last three months didn’t warrant him to believe her. She had to use her actions to prove herself.

“It’s not your fault. I wasn’t a good wife in the past.” Mira sighed dejectedly thinking about her past actions.

Jackson pulled her into his embrace and comforted gently “I am also at fault. I knew you had someone else in your heart and still married you.”

“I will use the rest of my life to prove myself worthy of your love.” Mira raised her head and spoke with conviction looking into his eyes.

“I believe you.” Jackson smiled and hugged her for a little while longer before going out to wash their clothes.

Mira sat up to think about this time in her life. She didn’t know much about Jackson was the truth. All she knew was that his parents died when he was quite young. His mother’s sister and husband devoted their life to bringing him up; but their relationship became strained due to their constant conflicts with her. His aunt didn’t approve of her wayward ways and didn’t like the way her beloved nephew was treated. A month ago, he took out all his savings along with a loan from his job at the Slegh’s, bought this huge block of land and house to avoid worsening of his relationship with his family.

Mira walked out to look at the place she was going to make her home since she had decided to live a good life with Jack. She had never really paid any attention previously. Every other day, she would run to her parent’s home. The days she stayed here, she would only leave the bedroom to cook something in the kitchen or use the room with the cesspit. Cooking wasn’t anything fancy, just plain porridge but she would leave some for Jack. She couldn’t even remember what the place looked like; it was a lifetime ago.

The house had five bedrooms, a front room, a dining room and a kitchen which was similar to manor. Probably she never had the intention of calling this place home, so she never paid attention. Now that she paid attention, she realized that this house had also separate dining room and front room. It looked very quaint but empty like their lives at the moment. Mira thought to herself that she would add color to their life so that Jack would never have to regret marrying her.

She walked out the kitchen and realized that they had a huge block of land. She didn’t know how much land there was but there was lots of land surrounding the house. The larger portion seemed to extend beyond the kitchen. 10 yards from the kitchen was the cesspit room. On the same line about 15 yards away from cesspit room but facing the kitchen was a large outer shed room. The outer shed had an entrance facing the kitchen and also had a door on the side opposite to that of the cesspit.

On the other side of the outer shed room about 20 yards away along the same line was a small, enclosed building with a vent, no windows, a single entrance and a pyramid-style roof. Mira had never explored any of these places other than the first time she came here. She vaguely remembered the outer shed room being storage place with things she had no interest in. About 75 yards behind the outer shed area was another large building that could be a barn… Mira had never gone that far. Opposite that barn maybe about 75 yards away in a horizontal line there was another 3 houses one behind the other. This house was also 85 yards away from their house. No one seemed to be living there.

Mira decided that since she was here to make amends, she would live happily not just with her family but would also treat his aunt and uncle with the same care that they deserve. They never neglected him even though they had children of their own and didn’t always have the means to make ends meet. They had five children of their own with three being younger than Jackson. They treated him fairly, the same as their own children if not better. The three younger ones were only sixteen, twelve and six.

Before their marriage, Jackson along the oldest children Oden and Joan helped with the expenses; Martin had just started working. This stopped once they moved. She would help him take care of them. Once she decided, Mira wanted to take action. She dressed up in a simple sky-blue dress and got Jackson’s clothes ready for him by the time he came. She heated up the pail of water that was left in the kitchen ready for him to wash up when he came back.

Jackson found it novel to have everything ready for him when he returned. He didn’t want to trouble his aunt and had always done his own thing ever since he was old enough to manage.

Mira’s house was an hour walk from the place that Jackson had bought. Mira’s family was a little better off than the other people in the village due to her father’s position in office although it wasn’t as good as those in the city. In order to make him feel revolted and give up on her, among other things, in the past Mira would insist on hiring a horse carriage just to spite Jackson’s incapability to afford even a simple ride.

“I will go and get the carriage.” Jackson spoke as he walked towards the door with a spring in his steps.

“No need.” Mira waved her hands “Let’s just walk.”

“Are you sure?”

“Um” Mira nodded as she lowered her head “Sorry about being a devil in the past.”

“It’s forgotten.” Jackson laughed as took Mira’s hand and placed it in the nook of his elbow and walked out the door. Although his action seemed flawless and confident, only he knew how senseless his heart was beating. He half expected her to push and kick up a fuss like she did in the past, but he still wanted to try.

Mira leaned on him bashfully as they walked forward.

Jackson felt like today was the actual day of his marriage even though they had been married for 3 months. They chatted nonsensical things along the way.

“Mom, Dad I am home.” Mira announced as she smiled sweetly.

Ursula’s hand that was cleaning the table paused as she heard Mira addressing her as mom and looked at the door in shock. It had been decades since Mira called her mom. Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she welcomed the couple in “Good…good… come in…. why are you standing at the door?”

Mira’s dad also had a surprised look on his face even though his reaction was not as exaggerated as Ursula’s.

“Dad, I came in a rush, so I didn’t have time to prepare anything.” Mira pouted as she sat on the armrest of her father’s chair.

“Why are you bringing things? Dad is happy as long as he can see you.” Matthew laughed happily.

“Dad, Mom…” Mira pursed her lips guiltily, gathering courage “I have behaved poorly all these years, but I promise I will be good and take good care of you in the future.”

“Yes… I know my daughter is the best.” Matthew laughed. He was glad when he saw her treating Ursula better. He didn’t have to be stuck between his daughter and wife… but only God knew how long this change would last.

Mira followed Ursula to the kitchen while Jackson sat chatting with Matthew. Jackson had only met Matthew three times. Once for the betrothal, then on the wedding and the last time was to tell him about the property. So, technically this was his first time interacting with Matthew on a personal level. Naturally he wanted to make a good impression.

“Mom” Mira held Ursula’s hand and stopped her from getting busy once they entered the kitchen.

Ursula observed her without interrupting.

“Mom, Can you forgive me?” Mira lowered her head, choking with emotions.

“Silly child!” Ursula laughed as her eyes filled with doting affection “How can a mother not forgive her child?”

“I…. I …. was terrible.” Mira sobbed “I did and said some unforgiveable things.”

“It’s all in the past.” Ursula pacified her gently.

“Mom, do you not hate me?” Mira asked in a low voice before mumbling “I know I would…”

“Nonsense.” Ursula wiped her tears “You are still the same little girl I swore to protect all those years ago”

“Mom, I promise…. I will be…”

“No need to promise anything.” Ursula wiped the tears that were streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably “As long as you live a good life, Mom is happy.”

Once the cloud that darkened the haze in their hearts dissipated, the mother and daughter chatted and laughed happily as they cooked. Ursula’s mind seemed to have flown back to the time when she came to this household as a the newly wedded wife. Mira was only three years old then…. She would follow Ursula like a little tail bubbling with excitement.

Their family life could have been said to have been a calm and peaceful one. Matthew Marsden would often be away in the city due to his work with the chamber of trade and book of hereditary rights leaving Ursula and Mira to their devices. This made Ursula and Mira especially close. Ursula was not your classic stepmother. She loved Mira like her own.

Ursula didn’t know why her relationship with Mira changed over the years as she grew up. They were no longer harmonious; Mira would insult and oppose her unreasonably, but Ursula couldn’t help it…. She wouldn’t be a good mother if she was to give in; she didn’t sweat the small stuff, but regardless of how hard it was she persevered…. She would never do or let any anyone do anything to harm her little girl.

“Mom…. mom….” Mira waved her hand in front of a dazed Ursula.

“Um” Ursula blinked.

“Mom, sorry… I listened to people who had bad intentions and wasn’t smart enough to know who really loved me.” Mira apologized again. How could she not know where Ursula’s mind had wandered off to!

“It’s alright.” Ursula smiled as she held Mira’s hand and sighed “My little girl is back!”

“Yes” Mira nodded with determination “And she will never hurt mom and dad. Or let anyone hurt them.”

The meal was simple was enjoyable with laughter filling the small house. Ursula couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear…. How long had it been….?