All Chapters of His Wife: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I help Maxwell’s grandmother, Bea, into the physical therapy pool. Her therapist and I help her walk laps in the pool. “You’ve made a lot of progress Mrs. Sturgis,” the therapist tells her.Bea doesn’t respond, but holds onto my arm tightly. She does some weights and I help the therapist spot her. By the end of the session, Bea is breathing heavily.I helped Bea to a small hot tub in the therapy pool. After making her comfortable, I turned on the jets for her. Bea does a different therapy every day. She is finally starting to speak again and gain movement in her left arm and leg. “Granma, we have ten minutes, then we will need to get ready. Sandy, Maggie, and Joyce are meeting us in the game room for cards.”Bea smiles, “You’re a good girl,” she says in a breathy voice. Her words are often slurred, but you can understand her. Most of the time, I can understand her more than I can Maxwell when he is drunk.I help Bea into the special water chair and wheel her to a shower area. A nurse

Kendra helps me get ready by doing my hair and makeup. Thursday, we bought a dress, and Friday, I took it in to get it tailored. This morning, I picked up the dress. The dress is navy blue to match Max’s tux. The dress bodice is a halter with beads that resemble pearls and embellishments. An open back with a chiffon skirt starting at my waist flatters my shape. The skirt has a slit that goes to the mid-thigh. Since Kendra is working today, I’m getting ready at the salon. Max said I needed to be ready at six when the car arrives. Then I will arrive at the gala by half past six. Max is supposed to meet me there.“Has he been nicer to you?” Kendra asks as she curls my hair.“I don’t know. He has insulted me less in the past two days,” I tell her. I told Kendra my idea of having Max come to family days at my father’s home and how that might help him see good in people again. Kendra thinks it’s a waste of time. Though I haven’t told her everything, she doesn’t like Max. I’m sure Kendra kn

Max and I dance after dinner. “I didn’t know you knew the Waltz,” Max whispers.“I took body movement in my first year at university. It is a class that teaches you a few different dances,” I tell him.“What others do you know?” he asks curiously.“I know one river dance, a Scottish reel, Tango, and Foxtrot, but don’t ask me to do a rumba,” I say smiling.“What possessed you to take that class?” Max asks.I shrug, “I needed an elective, and my advisor swore it would be an easy A.”Max laughs, “I took a wine tasting class. My advisor also swore it to be an easy A, but I got a B. Apparently, you aren’t supposed to drink the wine. She docked me points because I didn’t spit it into a cup.”I laugh, “Sounds like a waste of wine.”“That’s what I said,” Max replies with a playful smile.We take a break from dancing when Allen approaches us. I smile and greet him, “Hello Allen. Are you having fun?” Max puts his arm around me, and I lean into him.“Yes, I didn’t know you were such a dancer. I

Today is Ben and Bea’s anniversary. As part of Bea’s therapy, she takes a watercolor painting class. Due to their schedules, Maggie, Sandy, and Joyce cannot take the class. I offered to go with Bea. For the last six weeks, I have painted with Bea.I’ve learned a lot from the class and even discovered that Bea is a good painter. Ben loves her paintings and wants her to continue. We are surprising her by framing her canvases. The staff at the assisted living center helped me sneak the pictures out without Bea noticing.We are having an anniversary party for Bea and Ben today and are using her framed canvases as decoration. The party is held at Tom’s estate. I’m not sure who was invited, but I know we are expecting close to 45 people.Tom hired decorators, so all we need to do is arrive. The party will be mainly outdoors since the weather is nice. For this reason, I am wearing a pink sundress with a white geometric pattern.I grabbed the other small gift I got for Ben and Bea. Max is imp

I’m finishing dinner when Max arrives. “Good evening, Maxwell. Dinner will be ready soon,” I tell him.Max smiles, but it doesn’t seem friendly, “In two weeks we are having your birthday party at my father’s house. I’m not spending money for catering, so you will need to prepare all the food. The party will be a similar size to that of my grandparent’s. You can invite your…” Max shrugs, “five family members?”“I don’t want a birthday party,” I explain.Max looks annoyed, “Did I ask what you wanted? I told you what we are doing.”“Is this a party for you?” I ask.Max shrugs, “In a way, yes. No one really cares about your birthday.”I nod, “Alright Maxwell. What type of food would you like?”Max rolls his eyes, “The same food my grandparents had. It needs to be high quality and enough for thirty to forty people.”“I don’t believe I can make food for that many people. Could we do something simpler?” I ask.“Your lack of ability isn’t my problem. You make food for my friends. Why can’t you