I cradled the box as I stared at Faye, my best friend and a single tear slipped from my eyes.
“Why are you out in the cold, Rhea? Don't get sick on me!” Malachi’s voice came through the door.
He immediately stood behind me as he draped me with his jacket which I shrugged off.
“What’s wrong?” he queried.
His face twisted in slight disgust when he saw the dead cat in the box.
“Your son came to apologize,” I stated.
Malachi’s frown deepened, “He’s your son too.”
I scoffed, “He hates me Malachi! He killed my cat.”
“Come now, let’s go inside. I'll have a talk with him in the morning and you can bury the cat tomorrow. I'm sure he was just messing around and it was a silly prank,” Malachi said.
I shrugged away from him as I carried the cat and headed into the garden. I wasn't going to let my cat stay out all night for some animal to poke at him.
Malachi followed me, complaining about how I was being stubborn but he stayed with me while I buried Faye.
When I was done I went inside. The party was over and the guests had all gone home. It was already late and windy.
I sneezed just as Malachi held me. We got to my room and he sat me down on his laps. I cringed inwardly.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
Malachi sighed, “What’s wrong, Rhea? I'll get you a new cat.”
“I want to leave, Malachi. Tomorrow,” I stated.
Malachi tensed, “Marc is a child. I don't trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.”
I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after eight years.”
Malachi sighed, “I already told you, Rhea, I can't take another wife now.”
“I’m not asking you to. In fact, I don't want to marry you, I just want to leave.”
“Okay, why don't you have a child for me? That way I can secure your future and that of your child. If you have a child for me no one would dare say a bad word against you. And then Marc will have a little sibling.”
I smiled sadly. I had reduced myself to nothing and discarded my pride and yet eight years still he wants me to have an illegitimate child for him.
All this just to protect Marc and keep me in the same house as him.
“I’ve instructed the maid everything she needs to know about Marc. He's homeschooled so you can get the best tutors for him or send him to school. He doesn't need me again,” I stated.