My Mail Order Wife (The Value of a Man Book 1) (6 page)

The traffic was worse than Los Angeles during rush hour. Douglas chatted away, asking more questions as TaeTay stared out the window. It was all so different. Her life had changed in an instant and she was fighting back despair. In her soul, she prayed that he would at least wait for the ink to dry before Thurston drug her off by her hair and pounced on top of her like a rutting hog. The look he gave her on the sidewalk had almost curled her toes inside of her cheap shoes.
He is so classy
.

“Most of New York is segmented. If you need to go anyplace, you can call for the car.  Most stores or bodegas in the neighborhood will suffice for picking up sundries. There are also services that will deliver any needed food stores,” he told her as he reached for her hand.

She watched his strong fingers clasp hers and the warmth from his hand calmed her a bit. Douglas, not to be left out, put his hand on top of theirs. It wasn’t long before the car pulled up in front of the brownstone and the driver let them out.  TaeTay stood on the sidewalk, watching the busy people mill up and down the street, walking their dogs, jogging, or standing on stoops chit chatting. 
Home
.

“Welcome home,” Thurston told them as he instructed the driver to leave the two bags on the stairs while he settled the fare.  He trotted up the stairs to open the door and Douglas burst past them to run inside.  TaeTay called after him, but before she could step across the threshold, Thurston swooped her up in his arms and carried her.

“Whoo!” she yelled as she grabbed him around his neck to hold on. “Carrying me over the threshold; how gallant!”

He set her down inside the door and went back for the two pieces of luggage. “Are the rest of your things being shipped later?”

She slowly shook her head and the look on her face told him this was all they had.  Her words confirmed it as well, “Starting a new life.  I didn’t want to bring too much of the old one.”

“Great.  Welcome to your new home,” he told her while Douglas ran from room to room.  “Come, let me give you a tour.”

He began to explain the layout of the townhome and she was amazed at how spacious it was. The formal living room was bare, with the exception of a couch, a coffee table, and lamp.  The formal dining room held a table and six chairs.  The kitchen was far larger than she had expected and held a table that seated four along with a small worktable in the corner. “There is a water closet on this floor,” he told her as he pointed to the bathroom.

He went down the stairs first, telling her “This bottom floor is a family common area.”  She loved the wood-burning fireplace.  There was a craft room with large work tables and smaller tables that were kid-sized.  “The laundry room is down here as well.  Most of my clothing is sent to the dry cleaners, but I am certain with Douglas, there is a lot of laundry to do.”

“Where is my room?”  Douglas wanted to know.  “I thought I got my own room?”

“Of course you do. Climb up, I will show you,” he told the boy as he squatted down and let the child piggy back as they went back to the main floor to climb the stairs to the second floor. “There are four bedrooms upstairs with a converted room for a play area.  It was used as a nursery.”

There it was again.  That look
. The first bedroom was a guest room with nothing more than a bed and a dresser. The second bedroom held nothing and the third one held a kid-sized bed and dresser.  “This one is mine!” Douglas said with pride.  He opened the closet to find it full of clothes on a rack that was low enough for him to reach.  “Momma, look at all the cool clothes!”

“I see, sweetie,” she told him as she eyed the closet.

“Come on,” Thurston told her as he walked across the hall. “This is the master bedroom with a separate bath and two walk-in closets.  I think the one on the right is yours. She opened the door to find it also full of clothing.  Nice clothes.  Name-brand clothes in materials that felt rich and luxurious. Her mind was racing.

Her eyes went to the bed.  His face was blank when he told her, “I had the bed put in the guest room for you.”

The look of relief on her face was so blatant, it made him feel bad. “TaeTay, you share my bed when you are ready.”

“You sure it is okay for me to sleep in the guest room?”

He slipped his hand into hers. “I hope not permanently.  It would make it very difficult for me to get you pregnant.”

She twirled her hair again with her free hand. “See…you oughta stop,” she told him as her nose crinkled.

Douglas interrupted the sweet moment, “Daddeeeeee!  I’m hungry.” Thurston’s fingers tighten around TaeTay’s while a rush of emotions covered him when Douglas walked into the room in a red shirt and purple pants that he had gotten from the closet.

“Wow, look at you, son.”

“I know; I look sharp don’t I?” Douglas asked as he started to pimp walk around the floor in a pair of black cowboy boots that he found in the back of the closet.

“Yes, you do,” he said as he stared at the boy. He was a cute kid with a nice smile. Douglas was going to be a handful.  Thurston was going to love every minute of it.  “Let’s go downstairs and get some dinner; I am starved.”

TaeTay was prepared to pull together a quick meal and cook something for them to eat, but when they arrived back in the kitchen, the counter was loaded with food.

“Hold up! This wasn’t here when we walked in before was it?” TaeTay asked.

“It must have just arrived,” he told her as he searched the cabinets for plates.

“Somebody just let themselves into our house and left us food?”

He laughed, “It was probably my sister.  She sent the clothing for you two.  This was her house.  She left some of the furniture pieces for us to get started, but you will be able to start decorating this place to match who we are.”

TaeTay was quiet as she opened the containers to see what they were having for dinner.  She doled out servings for each plate, with just enough and not too much, arranging the food on the plate like she had seen on cooking shows. 

“I think Veronica—that’s my sister—also stocked the wine cabinet.  Would you like some wine with dinner?”

She needed all of her wits about her in case she had to fight him off tonight, so she told him, “No I am fine.”

“I want some wine!” Douglas said.

Thurston was really liking the kid’s quick wit, but TaeTay didn’t seem like the woman he had spoken to over breakfast in LA.  Something was off with her.

“What is troubling you, TaeTay?”

Her expression was riddled with concern. “I’m just a little overwhelmed, that’s all.  I mean once I get settled, I can get a job.  I mean this is a big house and it is almost empty.  It is going to take a lot to furnish it.”

“Come here,” he told her as he pulled her into his arms.  “Your job is taking care of Douglas and me. You don’t have to work outside of the home.  There will be charities and boards that you can serve on when you are ready, or you can take art classes, cooking, needlepoint or yoga, but you don’t have to work.”

TaeTay pinched him.

“Ouch,” he winced. “Why did you pinch me?”

“I just wanted to make sure you are real.”

He kissed the top of her head, assuring her, “I am very real and we are about to make a very real life together.”

She stayed in his arms while Douglas stuffed his face with something TaeTay did not even recognize. It was a wonderful feeling to be in his arms.  She felt safe, which in her world was a new experience. There were no more bogeymen at her door trying to climb in her bed or cause harm to her son.
Real.  It was real
.  They had gotten away.

Saturday was a family day.  A day spent getting to know each other. TaeTay had been worried when bedtime approached last night as Thurston stood in the doorway and watched her tuck Douglas in.  In the hallway, he told her goodnight before heading to the master bedroom and closing the door. 
He didn’t even try to kiss me or cop a feel
. She didn’t know if she was happy about it or slightly put out. She blew into her hand to check her breath. 
Oh well
.

That morning, she was up early, raiding the fridge and pleased at the selections inside: Grain fed beef, organic bacon, and other items she would need to research how to cook.  Bacon, eggs and pancakes were no problem; that she could do in her sleep.

Douglas, bless his soul, had found a yellow shirt that he put on with a pair of green jeans. Thurston sat watching him with more than a mild curiosity as he strolled through the kitchen, wearing his new clothes with some pep in his step. He asked TaeTay, “Are you guys from the islands?”

“No.  Evidently, he likes bright colors.  He has never really had anything other than blue jeans and tees, and maybe a pair of dress pants for Sunday, so having so many choices…” she told him.

He eyed her choice from the selection his sister had left for her in the closet.  She chose a conservative sundress and pair of low-heeled sandals.  “You look lovely,” he told her while standing entirely too close.

TaeTay swallowed hard, “Thank you.” She placed the breakfast plates on the table.

Breakfast went smoothly, and then as she tidied up the kitchen, Douglas went to change clothes again, this time choosing a pair of plaid pants with a light blue shirt. “Daddy says we are going out for a walk,” he said with pride as he tied the shoelaces on a pair of Nikes he also found in the back of the closet.

“We are going for a walk?”  She asked Thurston.

“Yes, there are a lot of local markets and merchants in the area.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to show you the neighborhood as well as get a feel for each other’s style.  You know, for decorating,” he told her as he handed her a set of keys to the house.

She was grinning at him, “So, I can buy something other than framed Ronald Reagan pictures for the house?”

“Of course, as long as you don’t get the collector’s set of Martin, Malcolm, JFK and the 44
th
,” he told her.

She rolled her neck and put her hand on her hip, “I love my President!”

“I’m sure you do, but rule of thumb, from here on out is this:  in that voting booth you can cast your vote for whomever you want; in public, you support your husband, and no other comments,” his face was stern.

She asked with raised eyebrows, “Rule of thumb?”

“Rule of thumb,” he repeated. “Once I throw my hat in the ring, our lives become about sound bites on news shows with talking heads. If you don’t say anything, nothing can be taken out of context. It is the rule of thumb, got it?”

“Got it,” she said. “Let’s roll.”

It was a pleasant outing as they entered small shops and businesses.  Several people knew Thurston or his sister, and he shook hands and introduced his wife and son. The first time he said it, TaeTay bristled a bit.
Well, we will be married tomorrow
.  She followed suit, stayed close by his side, smiled, and shook hands with neighbors and the people Thurston would be representing.

She corrected her thinking by the afternoon.  These are the people
they
would be representing. Over the course of the remainder of the outing, the new couple looked at art, discussed patterns, fabrics, music, and colors. She was surprised to find that they had similar tastes in music and were both moved by paintings in the same style.  Big, bold brush strokes and strong patterns.  He wasn’t as conservative as she thought or she was more conservative than she realized.  As it neared 2:30, Douglas was worn out.  Thurston had to carry him back home and tuck him into the bed for an afternoon nap.

“Do you need one as well, TaeTay?  Jet lag can sneak up on you,” he said.

“No, I am okay,” she was fidgeting back and forth. “So what do we do now?”

Thurston held up his finger as he rummaged through the bags of items they had purchased while they were out. He pulled out a jazz CD and put it in the player.  He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of wine and some fruit and cheese. He poured them both a glass of red and sat on the couch. “Come, sit with me,” he told her.

Thurston’s arm was across the back of the couch. TaeTay leaned against him, holding her glass. Neither said anything as the CD played in its entirety. It was one of the nicest afternoons she had spent in a very long time. Especially in the company of a man.  Usually by now, she would be fighting off her date and trying to get out the door. With him, she felt safe. Her mind wandered to winter in front of the fire prepping Douglas’ presents for Christmas.

“I’m going to like being your wife,” she said softly.

Thurston’s movements were purposeful as his steady hands removed the glass from her fingers and placed it on the coffee table. Warm, strong hands cupped her chin and turned her face to his.  He lowered his head to kiss her. His lips were soft and the kiss was tender.  “I am going to love being your husband.”