Stealing Grace (6 page)

He kept his promise and they left the house for the first time, headed to a shop downtown. She felt strange about him buying her clothes but he assured her it was perfectly alright and acceptable. She purchased a couple pairs of jeans, one casual dress, few blouses, a pajama set, underwear and a pair of running shoes.

On the way home he explained it was time for him to go back to work soon. Most of the men owned their own business close to home and took their wives with them as secretaries. She was fine with that. She was going stir crazy in that house all day.

* * *

The next few days were normal, well, normal for them. She cooked meals and cleaned up afterwards with some light housework in between. He read, made calls, did paperwork and then watched old movies at night. She thought to herself, this wouldn’t be so bad had it been a real marriage. This was the kind of life she had looked forward to one day, but not like this.

She would try, as she took her own advice that she’d given Amy. She would try to be a good wife regardless. They had actually gotten along quite well. Not much real conversation but an idle chat here or there. At least there was no tension, well not really.

She still didn’t know who this man was, just that he had saved her life and she was stuck with him, for better or worse.

* * *

Alex’s office was actually pleasant, welcomed even, just for her to get out of the house. Alex was a county permit and contracting negotiator, notary and neighborhood tax preparer. Most of his work was paper trails, tying up loose ends so no one on the outside got suspicious.

Elena had been a secretary once for a few months so, she was comfortable with it. Alex seemed happy to see her settle into the office routine so quickly.

Elena turned the dial on the radio and found an eighties station so she left it there. Alex looked over her shoulder as she prepared the folders he had given her earlier that day.

“I usually put them in alphabetic order,” Alex said carefully, trying not to hurt her feelings because she was doing it wrong.

“Well, I saw that but, I used to be a secretary and for me it was easiest to put things in chronological order, by pick up date. That way you always know which ones are about to be due just by looking in this weeks folder.” Elena hoped he took the advice as that and didn’t think she was trying to contradict him. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be pushy.”

“No. That’s actually a really good idea. I never thought to do that.” Alex sat on the desk next to her. “What kind of secretary were you before?”

“Home Health Agency...I mostly enjoyed the job, so don’t worry about me. I feel pretty comfortable about it.”

“Well, good. I’m glad you at least like the work, and you’re good at it. You uh...wanna order us some sandwiches from the sub shop across the street for lunch?”

“Sure.” She paused. “Can I ask you something?” She continued with his nod, knowing this wasn’t great timing but, there really wasn’t a good time. “What is your plan for me? I mean...I’m not down playing what you did for me. I just want to know what we’re doing. Am I just going to just live with you forever? Cook and clean? Work for you? Are we expected to have kids one day? I’m sorry, I just want to know what my purpose is here.”

“Well...I really don’t know, Elena. I’m sorry. I wish I could just put you on a plane and that be it but, it just doesn’t work like that here. I’m not sure, I guess we’ll just take it one day at a time. I’m really sorry this happened to you.”

His face did spell sorry, Elena could see that. She reached over and touched his hand cautiously. He looked down at her face, into her eyes, and watched her closely.

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel worse. I just wanted to know and as strange as it seems I feel like I could do good here. Maybe be some kind of encouragement for the other girls or something. I’ve had a lot of experience with weird in my life. Just don’t worry about me, I’m fine. Everything happens for a reason...” She trailed off always feeling like she had said too much or something she shouldn’t have.

He turned his hand over and clasped her fingers in his.

“I believe that you could do that, Elena,” he said softly. “I just want you to be happy and comfortable. Tell me anything you need or want that would make you that way and I’ll do whatever I can to do it for you.”

His thumb rubbed across the inside of her wrist once, her breath caught at the zing of pleasure in it and she felt a blush creep across her face and neck.
How can I feel like that? Oh. He must think I’m nuts.
He saw her reaction and watched her even more closely. He did it again, letting his thumb graze across her skin and Elena cleared her throat and pulled away, pretending to shuffle papers to cover her confusion and furious blushing.

* * *

Alex was terribly confused. Elena looked struck by his touch...in a good way. But how could that be? He’d kidnapped her, well not him but it might as well have been. He never imagined she might develop feelings for him, never. He always assumed this was a cause to help someone and he’d live with the consequences. That being a long lonely life with a woman who hated his guts for doing this to her.

But maybe...No. Elena didn’t feel that way, she was just adjusting, like him, just being nice. She was a sweet beautiful girl that he never expected to live with let alone start to feel something for and he would stop trying to provoke a response of out her.

* * *

Alex had to run next door to pick up some papers for a client and left her there alone. He would only be gone a few minutes and be right outside but he must have trusted her a little, not like anyone would ever dream of running through the middle of town.

Mr. Barnes, as he had informed her, came in while Alex was out to pick up some documents for his bank. He wasn’t happy that Elena was left alone so soon after her arrival there and also the fact that she wouldn’t give him his papers without Alex’s approval.

Alex came in just in time to see Mr. Barnes grabbing Elena’s arms, pulling her from the chair and yelling in her face.

“Give me those papers, girl.”

Déjà vu.

Alex ran over and pulled her from the man’s grasp, placing her aside carefully. Then he grabbed Barnes arm and pulled him outside
.
After a few minutes of him explaining to Mr. Barnes that he didn’t appreciate the discipline of his wife and that Elena was not allowed to give out anything without him being there because he didn’t notarize until right before he placed it in the persons hand, it was just good business, Mr. Barnes settled and huffed away with a later appointment time from Alex.

When Alex came back in Elena could see the shameful look on his face. He couldn’t protect her like he wanted to.

“I’m so sorry, Elena,” he said gruffly.

He came to stand flush in front of her and took her arm so carefully, turning it over and around checking for bruising. He was so close and she felt something strange for him and his kindness; a warmth spreading over her skin.
Jeez, Elena! You’ve got some kinda damsel-in-distress syndrome. Just cool off!

Her breathing had accelerated unwontedly. He could tell and his face was confused as he looked at her, studying her. He cocked his head slightly to the side trying to figure out what had changed about her. Why the sudden reaction to him? She bit her lower lip trying to look more casual but it didn’t help. Now he was breathing faster too and searching her face with his gaze.
What am I doing?

Closer, closer he leaned in.

Still both confused about this whole thing and yet not wanting to stop. He dropped her arm and took her face in both his hands, careful of her bruised cheek, slowly. She was leaning against the desk and he was still standing in front of her.

He moved forward the last few inches and let his lips touch hers, barely brushing them so slowly and softly, not sure if he should go on. Elena answered that with her own slow cautious advance, her hands resting on his chest. He pushed their lips together again and she bunched his shirt in her fist and felt shocked at her own boldness.

That encouraged him and he took her lips with more force, his body moving to press against hers. They kissed for just a moment and then the phone rang on the desk behind them, startling them both to pull apart, but he was still holding her. It rang again. He sighed, released her reluctantly and answered the phone after walking around the desk away from her.

“Mr. Peters. Sure come on over and I’ll get them ready for you.”

* * *

That night another husband and innocent wife came over for dinner. Alex had told her they do this regularly when the new wives arrive, checking up on each other for the first few months. You were supposed to have her under control by then. Next week they would have to go to Howard and Pam’s as it was their turn.

It was the same scenario. Elena had learned her lesson about not asking before doing something around the monsters and she always gave the same advice to the girls.

“Just be his wife, pretend, find a happy place, be a good wife.”

Hopefully it would help and make their lives easier somehow.

Howard was not nice by any stretch of the imagination. He berated his wife and laughed about her and at her. He made fun of Elena’s cooking more than once and of Alex for letting her get away with it. Everything tasted fine to her and Alex reassured her that it was fine, to which, Howard laughed harder and louder and told Alex to grow a certain pair of round objects that males often referred to when talking about gumption.

Alex had waived him off and asked for desert. Him and Howard watched some football while the girls cleaned the kitchen and then stood around in the there, waiting for the men to be done. Elena personally didn’t want to sit in there with Howard and didn’t think Pam did either.

So they stood in the kitchen, finishing off the last chunk of cobbler together at the counter. Elena asked her questions but Pam seemed embarrassed to talk about anything. Elena knew Howard belittled her so, maybe she was self conscious.

After the guests were gone, it was approaching bedtime and Elena wondered more about the sleeping arrangements. They were married after all. She had seen the marriage certificate. It wasn’t fair to make Alex sleep on the couch every night. It had been a month. He was a gentleman and she believed he would do anything she didn’t want to. In fact, he had told her just that.

Elena didn’t know how to exactly bring that up gracefully, especially after that kiss... They hadn’t spoken of it or brought up the kiss in any way. He hadn’t touched her either or gotten near her really. She wondered about it and knew for a fact he had too. Whether he was thinking it was good or bad was left to be seen.

Alex was sitting in his chair reading so she grabbed a glass of tea and brought it to him and tried to make small talk instead. He said thanks but looked up at her a little awestruck by her gesture. She realized she’d been only doing things that she knew needed done or that he asked her to do. She had never just done something nice for him before this, for no reason.

“Is there anything you particularly like to eat that you want me to start making?”

“Uh...not really. You’re a really good cook. I’m fine with whatever you want to make. I wasn’t exactly allowed to be picky growing up so, I’m not picky now.”

She nodded and then went on.

“OK...well if you think of anything, just let me know. I’m basically just making my grandma’s old recipes so...”

“Your grandma likes to cook?”

“Yeah, you could say that. I do too. I used to cook with her all the time, when she was alive.”

“I’m sorry about that, but I guess it’s good you like to cook. I don’t like taxes, so being the tax man kinda gets old.” He smiled and chuckled a little but she could tell he meant it.

“I know how that is. I never really found a job I absolutely loved either.”

“Well, you’re a good housewife.”

“Thanks,” she said thoughtfully.

He sighed and closed his book, frowning.

“I didn’t mean it like that...I just...”

“I know, its fine. At least I do like those things. You’re right.”

He continued to stare at her, guilt on his face. Guilt over feeling like he was making her do something she didn’t want to, even though neither had much of a choice at this point.

Elena stood up, looking down and walked to the kitchen to get a snack. There was a jar of green olives in the fridge and she couldn’t resist them nor the exit she needed from Alex’s guilty expression. Also, sweet Alex had heard her say something about Diet Cherry Coke and had picked her up a case. He was trying to make her as comfortable as prying eyes would allow.

She grabbed the cold can and jar from the fridge and bumped into him as she turned around, spilling olive juice down his shirt.
How does he do that? He’s like some kinda...ninja.

“Sorry,” they both muttered in unison, feeling awkward as their faces almost bumped into the others.

As she ran to the sink to grab a towel and try to clean him up, he was already unbuttoning his shirt to remove it as he spoke.

“Elena, look, I’m sorry. I feel like I’m making you...I want you to be happy here but I’m still trying to stay under their radar, ya know? Is there anything you want or need? Something I can get for you?” Alex said fumbling.

“Well,” she started as she wiped at his shirt, ”you already got my favorite thing,” she said motioning to the can, smiling shyly. “It’s ok, Alex, I know you’re trying. I’m fine, really. I’m a simple girl.”

Alex threw his shirt towards the laundry room door at the end of the hall while she wiped the spill on the floor.

There were things she could think of that she wanted and missed but didn’t want to give him a list to add to his guilt. Plus she was trying to concentrate on the spill but Alex’s shirt being off was offering her more than a little distraction.