A wife for my brother

Moving into his room was a revelation for Deanna. They no longer had any excuse to continue sleeping apart. Daniel couldn’t make sense of continuing to sleep alone, without feeling her by his side, but when he put his mind to it he felt as nervous as a teenager.

That afternoon they were sitting in his office, listening to music, while he read. Being in his arms like that, smelling his perfume that was a mixture of oakmoss and sandalwood, made her feel like she was inside a cocoon. Calm moments like that, with her head resting on his shoulder, relaxed her as much as if she were about to enter a deep sleep.

– Deanna… –

– Mmmm? –

– Do you think… are you awake? –

– Mm-hmm.

– Yeah, well… Do you think… actually I think it’s about time… I don’t know what you think… –

– About what? –

– Moving into my room –

Deanna’s eyes widened suddenly, she was waiting for him to ask her and if he didn’t she would propose. A tiny smile tugged at her lips.

– To your room? –

– Yes…

– To sleep together…

– Don’t you want to? –

– I don’t know… – It wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear and he got more nervous.

– If you don’t want to…

– Do you snore? –

– No, I don’t.

– How do you know? –

– No one told me that I snore.

– Ah, but how shameless! Who’s “no one”? – She said feigning indignation.

– I didn’t mean that… –

Deanna knelt down on the sofa with a huge smile on her face and looked him in the eyes. For a second she managed to fool him and make him even more nervous.

– How come I always fall into your traps? –

– It must be because I’m extremely convincing… –

– Of course you are… very convincing – His voice sounded lower.

The hand he had on her waist traveled to her head and drew her towards him very slowly. How she loved those attitudes Daniel had! One moment he was nervous and the next he had all that confidence back. Deanna’s gaze changed from cheerful and sparkling to totally seductive and when that happened he felt something shoot up inside his chest.

The kiss began to heat up, the book he was holding ended up on the floor to be replaced by her hips.

– Is that a yes? – He said, pulling a few inches away from her mouth.

– It’s blackmail… you know I’ll say yes, if you kiss me that way… –

– Mmmm… –

Daniel leaned further and further over her, until he had her almost cornered against the back of the couch. Deanna loved digging her fingers into his short hair, it felt so soft.

The door suddenly opened.

-Daniel… Oh my God! – Camila cried out in horror.

Behind her entered Charles who upon seeing them just smiled complicitly and marched straight over to sit in his son’s chair at the desk. Daniel stood up as fast as he could and so did Deanna. The only difference was that he was completely red and she was just smiling underhandedly.

– Mom you mustn’t come in without knocking first! For God’s sake! –Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

– Daniel! –

– Deanna, I’d like to have a coffee, if you don’t mind – Charles told her.

-Sure, I’ll be right back.

When she passed by Camila, she was still half trying to hide her smile.

-Hi, Camila.

She looked at her even more horrified, if that was possible.

-Hi.

Deanna went out and closed the door behind her.

– Shame on you, Daniel, how do you do those things in your house, what if it had been one of the kids?! –

– My kids know how to knock before they come in, Mom –

– Now, Camila, don’t make a fuss. It’s perfectly normal for a newlywed couple – Charles tried to calm her down.

His father was still smiling, how could he not be happy for him? He saved Deanna from his wife’s indignation by asking her for a coffee and rejoiced in the idea that Daniel had finally taken the step that would get him out of the sadness that had tormented him for so many years.

– What are you guys doing at home? –

– Your father wanted to talk to you and I just went with him. If I had known, I would have stayed… –

– Mom… please… What’s wrong, Dad? –

– You came for the gossip, dear. I wanted to tell you personally that we’re incorporating a new corps of lawyers in the company –

– Yes, I read it this morning –

– But that’s not the news – Camila told him.

– And what is? –

– It’s Beverly’s law firm that they hired –

– And that’s why you came, for the gossip –

– Now, Charles! Isn’t that wonderful, son? You’ll be working together from now on –

– It’s all the same to me –

– Come on, Daniel! Beverly is a splendid woman and an excellent lawyer-

– I’m married, remember?

And if she didn’t remember it now, it would stick in her mind. She herself intervened in that decision by forcing Charles to discuss it with her friend’s husband, Arlene. It was a good firm, well-established and reputable; generations of successful lawyers. And among them, Beverly. That’s why Camilla insisted ad nauseam. But Daniel was not interested.

Beverly was an elegant, nice, intelligent, successful woman, she came from a good family and had made a name for herself despite her last name. She was everything Camilla had hoped for in a wife for her eldest son. She still couldn’t convince herself that Daniel had been won over by this young girl who boasted nothing more than a volatile temperament. She wasn’t going to get involved in her son’s “affair,” but she would do her part to show him that she wasn’t the right woman for him.

Deanna returned with Charles’ coffee.

– Thank you, dear. How have you been? –

– Fine, thank you, sir –

– You know, you can call me by my first name, let’s forget that “Sir” thing –

– Well, Charles –

– Yeah, yeah… – He nodded in satisfaction.

– I’m sorry I have to leave you, but I have classes –

– So early? – Daniel asked.

– Yes, at least for this week –

– What time do you get back? –

– Before dinner, I’ll stop by to see Laura –

– Well… – Daniel was a little uncomfortable with that. If she went to Laura’s, she would see Harry.

– When I get back I’ll move my things –

– Yes…

– Well, nice to see you… Charles, Camilla, see you later –

– See you later, dear –

– Bye – Only replied her mother-in-law.

She gave Daniel a big smile and left.

– What things are she moving? –

– Could you be a little nicer, Mom? –

– I’m sorry – She said in a dry tone and looked away.

– Daniel I need to talk to you about something in particular, that’s why I came – Said Charles.

– I’ll go see the children – Camilla excused herself.

Deanna was still smiling when she arrived at her singing lessons. The situation had been so embarrassing that it was funny. It was worth it just to see Daniel’s face all red. Where was the stone-faced, expressionless, cutting man? Where was the proud, combative Deanna? She was in love. In love with a man who was like no other. She didn’t want to concentrate on anything but her feelings, on this period she was living now, on the emotions that were growing every day.

But she still had one thing left to do: talk to her mother and grandmother. What was she going to tell them? Her mother was going to be angry with her for hiding her marriage from her, her grandmother would be elated and insist on meeting her new grandson. Not only that, the new grandson had 3 children and was 15 years older. She just knew she would tell them the whole truth. They were her only family; it was always just the 3 of them. Her mother had never told her much about her father, all Deanna knew about him was that he left her mother heartbroken.