Chapter 3 Anxious
“Two days ago? Where?” I blurted out, feeling anxious. Eleanor noticed my expression and asked, “Why do you act this way?” “Where did you see him?” I continued asking, not in the mood to joke. Eleanor’s phone rang at the critical moment. She glanced at the screen and gestured to me to keep quiet before picking up the call. She sat up straight after a few words. She looked at me and said, “What… I’ll be there now.” She shut her laptop off and shoved it into her bag hastily before pointing at the door. “I need to run. Bye.” “Hey… Eleanor…” She ignored me and ran out regardless of my shocked expression. My question was never answered. Eleanor saw Oswald two days ago. But Oswald was on a business trip in Bellen City then. Where did Eleanor meet him? I doubted Eleanor was on a business trip too. I turned around and closed my mouth, feeling disappointed and scared. My mind kept on replaying the live-stream shot. But I couldn’t be sure that that man was Oswald. Did he lie to me? Maybe he wasn’t in Bellen City? Was he cheating on me with another woman? I sat idly in the cafe and was lost in thought. I started shivering uncontrollably as if I was in an ice cave, though I was sitting under the bright sunlight. What should I do if Oswald was cheating on me? What about Jocelyn? What about our family? I spent the day like a zombie and even forgot to pick up Jocelyn. Luckily, Oswald was home earlier than usual. Realizing that I forgot to pick up Jocelyn, he comforted me and went to the kindergarten. I told myself to get it together and started cooking. Lelia came to our house before Oswald returned with Jocelyn. She had the key to our house and always acted like this was her home too. I hated it, but Oswald had indulged her. When she saw me in the kitchen, Lelia put down her purse and came over. She leaned against the kitchen door and asked, “Why did you start cooking dinner so late? Where’s Oswald?” “He went to pick up Jocelyn,” I answered while washing the vegetables. “At this hour?” Lelia sounded judgment*l. She was always like that. As a spoiled child, she acted like the head of the family and often gave me the cold shoulder. I was used to her attitude. After all, she was Oswald’s sister. I had no choice but to accept her. “Do we have onions? I want onion rings,” Lelia asked rudely. I pointed at the refrigerator. “Check the freezer. Take some out if you can find them. I think Oswald has brought it.” I heard Jocelyn’s sweet voice at the door. “Mom, I’m home. Why did you forget to pick me up today?” She ran into the kitchen and tilted her face to look at her with her doe eyes. I smiled in embarrassment and pinched her small nose with a wet hand. “I was busy. I promise it won’t happen again.” Oswald walked in with Jocelyn’s backpack in his hand, smiling at us lovingly. Lelia turned to the door and said softly, “Oswald.” “What brings you here?” Oswald asked nonchalantly. He put down the backpack, took off his coat, and came into the kitchen. He embraced me from behind and took off the apron before putting it on himself. “I’ll cook. You can keep Jocelyn company.” Lelia stared at Oswald and said sarcastically, “What a good husband. I want to find someone like you.” Oswald retorted, “Get out. You’re not helping. Just wait for dinner.” “No. I’ll help,” Lelia said sweetly and squeezed into our tiny kitchen. Her choice of words was inappropriate. “I want to play husband and wife with you.” I snorted inwardly, “How shameless. She can never find someone like Oswald if she keeps on goofing around. The person who marries her must have done something terribly wrong in his last life. Only Oswald can put up with her.” I grew more upset with Lelia in the house. She wasn’t a little girl anymore. Yet, she always attached herself to Oswald and put on an innocent act in front of him because she wanted money. The Price family was poor before as Oswald’s dad was the only one who had a steady job. Oswald’s mom would work part-time jobs. And Lelia was in and out of the hospital. They could barely make ends meet, so Oswald had low self-esteem then. The situation improved when our company got on track. In fact, Oswald and I had worked hard to support his family. Lelia was the worst as she always asked for money without a trace of guilt. As a freeloader, she was proud and only had the energy to have fun. When she needed to work, she always claimed that she was too weak. I dragged Jocelyn out of the kitchen. Out of sight, out of mind. My phone rang. Eleanor was calling…