I am so sorry that is had been so long since I updated a new chapter of this story! I haven't been feeling well and spend a lot of time figuring things out for myself. Yesterday I sat myself down to write on this story and by now I already have 4 new chapters waiting to be put up on this site. Forgive me please!
Almost a week has passed since we got married. She has met my family but I haven't met her parents yet. She keeps pushing that away when I ask her about it. Not that I have seen her a lot since she got to work the next day and is making abnormal long days.
We got married on Saturday and now is Friday. So, I have been working the entire day before having to teach a class in the evening. Ivan, my best friend, is a teacher at that school full time. Every Friday we eat together and most of the times he joins me for a couple of drinks after I am finished.
He is the reason I am teaching two classes every week. When I had just bought the bookstore, things weren't going very well for me so he managed for me to get this job. That was I would have a little more money to spend on my bookstore.
Now things are going well for me and I have a girl working for me, Meredith. She recently got her degree and is having trouble finding work.
Tonight, I brought Ivan with me to Rose's house. During our dinner, I told him that I got married. He was so shocked that he didn't said anything for five minutes before he started laughing. It had been the last thing he was expecting from me. I had always been a little bit to reasonable about things.
We talked a bit about my marriage and he told me that he was happy for me as long I was happy. I told him about my worries that are sneaking a way into my head. About the apartment we are trying to live together in. He comforted me a bit, something I hadn't expected. He is mostly hard for me because I need that.
After the class I made my way toward the chapel where our rings were ready to pick up. With them in my pocket I made my way home, well… Rose's home. With a quick stop at my own apartment so I could pick up some clothes and a couple of books I want to read.
When my class was over I called her, and told her that I would pick up the rings and she was exited. Telling me that she would be home early today to make up for the last week. She would pick up some food and we would have the entire weekend together.
As I walk into the building I greet Stan the doorman and make my way toward the elevators. He seems a little surprised that I greet him. The elevator open and I step in, pushing the right button. I hate elevators.
The door is already open, making me smile. I feel something stirring in my stomach thinking about seeing Rose. That smile disappears as I step into apartment, something is not right here. I shut the door behind me.
'Rose?', I call out as I push the door shut behind me. The apartment is to quiet. As I don't hear a respond I walk further into the apartment. Rose is sitting at the big table; she meets my eyes for a moment before she stares at the table again.
A man and woman are standing on both sides of her. The woman looks strict with her hair pulled into a tight bun. The man is staring me down with his hands on the table, leaning forward. This must be her parents.
'Sit.', the man says before I can say a word. He points to a chair on the other side of the table.
'You must be Rose's parents. I'm Dimitri.' I try, sticking my hand out to them. But Rose shakes her head quickly. Both them stare at my hand if it is something filthy. I let it fall down my side and sit on the chair he pointed at.
'Today we got a note telling us that you two got married. We were not amused.', the woman says. Janine if I am right.
'I can't believe we had to hear from someone else.' The man says, Abe. Rose shrinks just a little bit with his words. I look at Rose. She didn't tell her parents? Then who did.
'I hadn't found the time yet.' Rose says, looking at me this time. Not sure if it is an apology or not. Abe's hand land on her shoulder, she moves her eyes toward the table again.
'This was fun for the time you two had but it has to be over. This marriage isn't meant to last so we can better make an end to it now.', Janine says. This shocks me even more. End it? We haven't even had a proper start yet.
'I brought the papers that will state that this was a mistake and we can even turn it all back. Then you both can walk away from this without looking back.' Abe says, taking the papers from a folder that laid on the table.
'End it? Turn it back? What are you talking about?', I ask them. Not understanding why they have a say in any of this.
'If we can sign these papers today than we are within the first week, after one week I can't do anything anymore. Then you will have to go through divorce papers. And knowing my daughter she hasn't let you sign any kind of marriage settlement. Maybe my daughter trusts you but me and my wife doesn't and we will not let you walk away with half of her money.', Abe says.
It is a little more than I am expecting to hear. Is this why Rose hadn't told them yet? So, we would be over one week in our marriage and her parents wouldn't be able to do anything about it? Why is she letting them say these things in the first place? She is an adult. They can't do anything she doesn't want.
'If this is about a marriage settlement I am sure that you can make something up that I can sign. I'm not after her money if that is what you are worried about.', I tell them, moving forward on my chair placing my hands on the table. Janine huffs at that.
'This is about more than money. Have you told her the reason your family moved from Russia to the states? About the hands that you couldn't keep home? Beating your own father at the age of thirteen. Who ways that you will keep your hands at home when you get mad at my daughter? Not to speak about the fact that you would be marrying another woman but blew off the wedding only a week before the wedding. This happening only three months ago.', Abe says, putting the files in front of me.
I swallow hard, looking up to see Rose looking at me with big eyes. I don't even know how he knows all those things. Not even the police knew about the fact that I beat up my father. He was abusive so I had a reason. And everyone will tell you how I won't even raise my voice to a woman.
'I have no idea how you know about these things besides that they are not even your business.', I tell him. Standing up from my chair. I am done with conversation. These are the things that should be between Rose and I. Not between me, Rose and her parents.
'When you are spending so much time with my daughter these things are my business. You have no idea who you have in front of you.', Abe tells me. I am not impressed with it. Maybe it is because I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier.
'Rose, do you want to sign these papers?', I ask her, turning my attention to her. It doesn't matter to me what her parents think. It matters to me what she things.
'I am not sure Dimitri.', she says. And I have no idea what worries me more. That she isn't sure anymore or that she isn't even calling me comrade.
'Roza, realize that you are an adult. That your parents can't force you into anything. If you are sure that you don't want to be married to me I will sign these papers but I have to hear it from you. I know that what your father told you won't make me look good but I will promise you that it is different from what it appears to be. I'm not a violent man.', I tell her. Her eyes locked into mine.
'If you want me to sign or if you want to talk to me, you know where to find me.', I tell her. I pull her ring from my pocket and leave it on the table as I walk out of the apartment. I have no interest in being judged by her parents when they don't even know me.
As I make my way to my own apartment I wonder if this the shortest marriage ever. I wonder how her father knows these kinds of things about me and if I have a wife at the end of this weekend. There are so much things I wonder about that it is driving me mad.
As I come home I throw my duster over a pile of books, hearing it tumble over. I pull a bottle of vodka from the cabinet above the fridge and for the first time in a long time I put the bottle against my lips.
I feel terrible as I wake up the next morning, still lying on the couch with an empty bottle next to me on the ground. I groan loudly as I pull myself up. In the bedroom I pull yesterday's clothes of my body and step under a cold shower.
As I feel my head getting clearer I lean my head against the wall. Is it a good thing that Rose hasn't showed up until now or are her parents still talking with her? Telling her bad things about me until she is sure that she doesn't want to be married with me anymore.
When I walk back into the bedroom I pick up the jeans I wore yesterday and take the ring out of the pocket. I play with it for a bit before putting it on my finger. Then I groan loudly, pulling it off and placing it on my nightstand. I get dressed quickly and with some coffee and my breakfast I make my way downstairs toward the bookstore.
Meredith looks surprised as I walk into the store. I had told her that I wouldn't be here today. It is quiet at the moment and she sits behind the desk, reading a book.
'I thought you wouldn't be here today?', she asks me, putting something between the pages before closing the book. She moves over to another chair, making room for me to sit beside her.
'It wasn't the plan. But things got a little different so I thought I could better spend my day here than upstairs.', I tell her.
'You could clean your apartment.', she tells me with a soft smile. I shake my head, not in the mood for these kinds of things. Everyone who knows me knows how much books are in my own apartment.
'Are you alright?', she asks, placing a hand on my forehead. I wave her hand away. I take another gulp of coffee before I shake my head.
'No, but I will be alright.', I tell her. Standing up again.
'Can I do anything for you?', she asks me, standing up as well. I shake my head again. I clean my cup before setting it down beside the coffee maker.
'Dimitri, may I ask you something as you are here today.', she says, moving from one feet to another. I look at her before nodding. Wondering what this is about.
'You know how much I love working here but you also know that I won't be here forever.', she begins and I get the feeling that she will telling me that she is quitting right now. 'There is a draft for new employees at one of the offices I am interested in and I was wondering I could go.'
I sigh and smile at her. I had thought that after that rough night I had I also had to get someone new at the bookstore.
'Go, get that job.' I tell her, waving her away. She thanks me before pressing a soft kiss on my cheek. Then she is out of the door. Maybe it is a good thing that I showed up at the bookstore today. Even if I am not getting what I wanted, some of us do. Then I get myself to work, opening boxes with new books and placing them on the right shelves before people are walking in.
I have already turn the card on the door from open to closed but I am still busy with the last couple things before locking up the bookstore. It had actually been nice spending time in my own bookstore on a Saturday. I mostly let Meredith work the Saturdays.
As I heard the sound of the bells from the door I groan. Some people just can't read. Maybe I should be starting to lock the door even when I am still busy here.
'We're closed.' I say, knowing that they can hear me at the front of the shop. As a couple minutes' pass but I don't hear the door opening again I groan another time. Now I have to go there and tell them that they need to leave.
As I make my way to the front and turn left on the last of the shelves I stop the moment I see who is standing in front of me.
I know that I don't deserve it but if you are in good mood please leave me a review :)
