Overprotective
Chapter XVI
It was now a warm afternoon in the end of August. I was outside with my son who was sitting on the grass, tearing the green blades from the earth. Ellie was outside as well, chasing the sparrows in the yard.
"Ma'am?" I looked up from my child to see our young cook, Beatrix. She was tall and slender, with long light brown hair. She was only a few years older than me, and very attractive. I didn't worry about that though. She was also a very good cook.
"Yes, Beatrix?"
"For tonight's dinner, Mr. Welch will not be here, he told me, due to work complications. I came out here to give you a choice of either chicken or soup tonight."
"Soup will be fine. Thank you." I answered, and she left.
I wasn't too hungry lately. I'd been eating lightly, because my stomach had been a bit sensitive. This morning I barely touched my breakfast, and ended up sick in the bathroom. I know what you might be thinking, and yes, I was expecting a second child. It was unexpected, and I already had my hands full with AJ, that the thought of juggling the responsibility of two babies scared me. I hadn't told Spencer yet. I had planned to tell him over dinner tonight, but since he wouldn't be home, I'd tell him when he got home tonight. Hopefully he would be excited. I was, even though I was nervous.
Later on, I put my son down to sleep in his crib. Then I went down to the dining room, where Beatrix smiled and brought me a steaming bowl of soup. Then she left and went down the hall.
I was feeling a bit sick again, so I entered the kitchen to get a glass of water for myself. Beatrix wasn't in there. I saw the pot of soup still on the stovetop, and beside that on the counter was a suspicious looking bottle. It was empty except for a few drops at the bottom. I picked it up and looked at the label. It said "Arsenic" in big bold green letters. I gasped, and gently placed the bottle on the counter. She put poison in my soup…. I storm out of the kitchen. "Beatrix!" I screamed, and she appeared in the hall.
"Yes, ma'am?" she asked timidly.
"Would you care to explain the empty bottle of poison next to my dinner in the kitchen?"
She was stuttering. "I… I can explain. You see, It was because- well…. Please forgive me."
"Nothing can excuse you for attempting to kill me! Why did you do this?" I screamed at her.
She broke down in tears. "It was in the name of love, ma'am!"
I looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
"I fell in love with somebody. Surely you can understand that."
"But who are you in love with?"
"Mr. Welch."
I stopped. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened.
"You see, ma'am, for the past few months, your husband has made advances on me. Eventually, we ended up having a relationship, and I knew I could never have him with you in the way. I don't know what came over me. Please, forgive me. I beg of you."
I scowled at her. "I can't even look at you right now. Go dump the soup down the sink, and go to bed. You're dismissed."
"Dismissed for good, or just for the night?" she asked meekly.
"We'll discuss it tomorrow. Now go!" I screamed angrily, with tears rolling down my cheek.
I sat in the parlor, waiting for Spencer to arrive home. I heard the door open, just as the grandfather clock in the corner struck midnight. His footsteps were heavy, and I heard his hat hit the floor. He must have missed the hook on the coat rack. He walked past the parlor door, and stopped when he saw me sitting there. "Merry? What are you doing sitting in here all alone? Come to bed." he slurred.
"No, Spencer. I don't want to go to bed with you. Maybe ask someone else."
He laughed. "Like who? Come on." he walked into the room and pulled on my arm, "Let's go upstairs."
"Why don't you take Beatrix to bed with you, darling?" I hissed.
His eyes widened. "What?"
"I know." I looked away from him.
"Meredith, Beatrix is our cook. I wouldn't do anything with her." he said, and smiled, hoping I'd believe him.
"But you have."
"No, I haven't!" he snapped defensively.
"Then why did she try to poison my dinner tonight, Spencer?"
His jaw dropped. "She tried to kill you?"
"Yes. Because she is in love with you. Apparently you've given her some reason to think you two could be together. You had an affair with her."
He looked like he was about to say something.
"Don't you dare lie to me." I stated sternly and stuck my finger out at him.
He looked down at his feet. "Yes. I did."
My eyes filled with tears again. "Well, at least you fit in with your stupid friends now…"
"They are not stupid!"
"Oh, please. They're all a bunch of drunks who cheat on their wives, so I guess you felt the need to fit in? Don't even try telling me they had nothing to do with this. You've been different ever since you fell in with their crowd."
"I've been being a man, Meredith."
"No, you've been being a coward." I hoped he could sense the hint of utter disgust in my voice. "And a fraud. And a liar." I crossed my arms tensely. "You're not the man I thought you were."
"When we got back here, that's when life started. We reentered reality, Mer. Not everything is easy. Nor is anything perfect, especially me. If you expected that, you're just as naïve as I thought. I need to do what's best for my job."
"And that would be to cheat, drink, and hurt others. Don't you see what those men have done to you?"
"They are my bosses for the time being! They are teaching me how to be a leader. So stop getting in my way."
"Gladly." I ran up the stairs, and called down, "I'm leaving, but not because you told me to."
"Good!" he screamed.
I returned downstairs with AJ in my arms and a packed bag.
"You're not taking him."
"Of course I am. You didn't think I'd just leave him here with you, did you?"
"Honestly, I wasn't thinking of him at all."
"You never did."
"Don't you dare say that. I think of him a lot. He is my son!" he screamed. "I… I love him." he said, his voice softened a bit.
"Well, I love him too. I need to do what is best for him and I. I'm going to stay with my aunt in New York. Have fun with your harlot and your friends who mean much more to you than the family you promised to love and protect.'
He was quiet.
I approached the door, and held the knob firmly in my hand. "By the way, Spencer, I meant to tell you tonight. I'm pregnant. Now you lose all three of us. You better hope it was worth it." With that I left, and walked quickly down the driveway.
"Meredith!" I heard him yelling from the doorway. "Wait!"
My vision was blurred by tears, but I kept walking.
"Meredith!" I heard his footsteps behind me, running.
I quickened my pace.
He grabbed onto my bag. "Please, wait, Meredith."
I tried to pull my bag away, and finally succeeded. AJ began to cry as I held him with one arm.
I turned again, but Spencer wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Mer, please, don't go. Listen, we can work this out."
"Leave me alone."
"Please, Meredith! Don't leave me." he said in a pleading tone.
I wiggled from his arms and freed myself. "Leave me be." I said calmly. "Goodbye, Spencer."
I left him standing there, as I walked out of the gates, and walked down the dark street.
Spencer changed for the worst. Meredith has left him. Will things work out? You'll have to wait for the next few chapters to find out. They might be about this length as well. Or I may combine stuff. I'm not sure yet. Anywho, thanks for reading this chapter. Please review. Pretty please with sugar on top? Haha. Chapter 17 will be up soon.