An Unwelcome Breakfast

Ann stood in the kitchen, slowly stirring the eggs in the frying pan. She felt weak, her eyes heavy from lack of sleep as the dull ache in her back was gradually returning.

She had spent most of the night staring at the ceiling. She couldn't stop thinking about Olivia.

Who was she? Why had Daniel brought her into their home? And why was everything going on making her feel like a stranger in her marriage?

Ann sighed and rested a hand on her stomach. The baby moved gently beneath her palm. "Good morning, little one," she whispered with a faint smile. "At least you don't judge me."

It was easier for her to make such comment but felt difficult to accept it.

“Seems like someone is having a good time speaking to her baby bump.”

Ann turned effortlessly with her dazzling eyes scanning Olivia who has just walked into the kitchen from head to toe.

She looked perfectly rested. Her hair was neatly styled, and she wore a cream blouse tucked into a long skirt. She looked like someone who had woken up in a beautiful home and felt completely comfortable there.

Then, suddenly Ann became aware of her own appearance. Her loose shirt. Her tired face. Her hair tied carelessly behind her head and it made her completely skeptical.

"Good morning," Olivia greeted, smiling sheepishly.

"Good morning," Ann's voice was low as she tried to avoid eye contact with Olivia.

With her eyes searching the kitchen, she conveyed, "Seems like you've been awake for a while."

"Yes." Ann's voice was sharp.

"You always wake up this early?"

"Most days."

Olivia smiled. "Daniel used to love breakfast in bed."

Ann's hand stopped moving as time seems to pass very quickly. She was taken aback by what she had just heard and when she finally came back to her senses, she threw Olivia a side glance. "I didn't know." Her frail voice responded. "He was never really a morning person."

Olivia ignored her gaze and walked toward the stove. "But he always wake up early when I made breakfast for him."

A forced smile landed on Ann's face. "That's nice."

Olivia reached for the spatula. "You're making eggs?"

"Yes."

Olivia made a silent scoff. "Daniel doesn't like them this way."

Ann couldn't help but bit her lower lip, clutching her left hand against the kitchen slab. "How does he like them?" She asked, rolling her eyes in astonishment. She really needed an explanation cause something just doesn't feels right.

"Soft." Olivia said and began to stirr the eggs slowly. "You know, Daniel used to say nobody could make them the way I did." She added.

Ann's chest tightened. She didn't know what Olivia was trying to achieve, but she refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing her react. "I'll remember that."

Olivia looked at her, perplexed. "You're not upset?"

"Why would I be?"

"Most wives would be."

Ann picked up a plate. "I'm not most wives."

For the first time, Olivia's smile disappeared. Before she could answer, footsteps sounded behind them and they both turned to see Daniel has entered the kitchen.

His eyes immediately settled on Olivia. "You woke up early." He stated, his face defensive.

"I wanted to help,” she countered and turned to look away from him.

He sneered. "You didn't have to."

"I know." She snapped, her tone tensed.

Olivia, noticing the riff between them decided to be the savior again. She smiled and pointed toward the stove. "I made your eggs." She said and added, “The way you love it.”

Daniel directed his eyes to the stove. "You remembered."

"Of course I did." Olivia giggled as they both started to chat over it.

Ann looked away, remembering she had prepared Daniel's breakfast for years. She knew how he liked his coffee, how much sugar he took, and exactly how he wanted his eggs. Yet it was another woman remembering something about him that seemed to matter. Why does he care so much about that rather than how she feels? Was the past more important than what was going on between them?

"Is breakfast ready?" He cut through her thoughts.

She flinched. "Almost."

"Good." He gave her one more look before finally leaving the kitchen as Olivia followed after.

—

By seven fifteen, everyone was seated at the dining table. Ann carried the last tray into the dining room.

She noticed Olivia has taken Daniel's usual seat. She stared for a second before Olivia looked up innocently.

"Oh, is this Daniel's seat?" Olivia asked. Before Ann could answer, Daniel entered. Olivia stood immediately. "I didn't know."

Daniel glanced at the chair. Then at Olivia. "It's fine. You can sit there." Then, he went ahead to pull out the chair beside her and sat down.

Ann snickered but said nothing. She began serving breakfast while others joined them at the table. Soon, she was done serving and as she settled down to eat, she heard Olivia again.

"This is delicious."

Ann looked up. Her lips trembled from answering. "Thank… you.”

Olivia smiled. "I was beginning to worry I wouldn't find food I liked here."

Daniel's mother laughed. "You'll get used to the house."

Ann continued eating quietly. “Get used to the house?” was all she could think about.

Olivia suddenly reached out to touch Daniel's arm."Don't forget your coffee."

"I won't." Daniel replied as a smile spread over his face.

Ann's hand paused around her spoon seeing the way he looked happy. It was such a small thing. Yet, why does it hurt so bad?

"Ann," Daniel's mother suddenly called.

"Yes, Mama?" She replied gazing at her mother-in-law.

"The upstairs rooms need cleaning today." Mrs Damien relayed.

Ann countenance changed in a second. “Clean the rooms?”

Mrs Damien threw her a gaze. “Yes?”

"I have a meeting at the company." She conveyed almost immediately.

"You can clean before you leave."

"I need to leave by eight."

"Why didn't you wake up earlier?"

Ann swallowed. She looked at Daniel. Maybe he would say something just once. Perhaps he would speak. Perhaps he would remind his mother that she was pregnant. Perhaps he would say she had already done enough. But Daniel continued eating.

Olivia noticed the exchange and smiled quietly to herself. She was loving what was happening.

After some few minutes , Ann raised herself from the chair. "I'll go clean them as soon as possible."

Daniel suddenly looked up. "Sit down."

Everyone became silent.

Ann shifted her attention to him. "What?"

"I said sit down." He countered again and turned toward his mother. "She has work. We have staff to handle the cleaning."

His mother frowned. "But—"

"She doesn't need to do everything."

Ann slowly sat down. She didn't know what surprised her more—Daniel defending her or the fact that she was grateful for something that should have been normal.

Meanwhile, Olivia watched Daniel carefully. She had expected him to remain cold toward Ann. Instead, she had seen concern in his eyes and it kind of irritated her.

The table was silence for the whole time the family ate until Ann finally finished eating and stood up to go prepare for work. She turned and walked upstairs. "Where did we go wrong?" She couldn't help but ask as tears rolled down her cheek while using the back of her palm to wipe it away. "No." She shook her head. "I can't keep asking myself this." She said. “I have a kid who needs me. I have a career. A baby growing inside me. In all, my life. She was so tensed that she almost screamed but was quick to maintain her composure. There was no need making a scene so early.

Downstairs, Olivia watched her disappear. Then she turned toward Daniel and whispered. "She doesn't seem jealous."

Daniel looked at her. "That's not the point."

"Are you sure?"

He raised his brows. "What are you implying?"

Olivia smiled, shrugging off her shoulder. "Nothing." She picked up his coffee cup. "I just thought you'd want your plan to work." She reminded him.

Daniel's expression hardened. "It will."

Olivia nodded. "Of course."

But the moment Daniel looked elsewhere, the smile on her face changed. It wasn't the smile of a woman helping an old friend. It was the smile of a woman who had finally found an opportunity she had been waiting years for.

Daniel believed she was simply helping him teach Ann a lesson. He believed he was in control. He believed that once Ann changed her attitude, everything would return to normal.

But Olivia had never returned to Daniel's life to help him save his marriage. She had returned because she wanted the marriage for herself. And she was willing to wait.

Because sometimes, the most dangerous person in a marriage isn't the one who openly fights for what she wants. It's the one who smiles...

...waits...

...and quietly takes her place.