Chapter 20
Brandon could hear the grandfather-clock ticking noisily in the dining room. Other than that, there was complete silence in the room. Alice was sitting across from him at the table, and their housekeeper had served them coffee and danishes. They lay untouched on a plate between them, as did the coffee. He wasn’t hungry and even though Alice had been eyeing the danishes, she was being polite and not reaching for them yet.
Brandon had been away on business for the past three weeks. He had told himself and his wife, that his work was urgent and important. The truth was that most of the time, he had kept himself locked up in his office, trying to not allow memories of Jo interrupt his work. He had returned to Boston and to Alice at the end of those three weeks, forcing himself to man up and face his life decisions.
He wanted to surprise Alice, so he hadn’t told her he was on his way back. When he returned to the house, he found the place trashed; with three of her friends drunk and occupying the spare rooms. Alice was sleeping on the couch, much like the way he had found her that morning of the party when Jo left.
He had made her go upstairs, shower and change and then meet him in the dining room so they could talk.
“I’m sorry, Bran…I just got carried away,” Alice mumbled, while he glared at her. He didn’t know the woman he married, and as much as he was trying to make amends to their rocky beginnings…Alice was making it very difficult.
He cleared his throat but said nothing.
“I’m bored in this big house, all alone by myself. You have to understand, Bran!” she argued, creasing her forehead for sympathy. He clenched his jaws as he glared at her some more.
“I asked you to travel with me. It wouldn’t have been a problem, Alice,” he retorted, even though he knew deep down inside, that he was glad when she turned his offer down.
“Yes, maybe I will from now on. I haven’t visited any of your hotels or resorts. We could finally plan a honeymoon,” she said, giving him a weak smile. Brandon wasn’t in the mood for smiling. He just wanted all this to go away.
“Did we make a wrong decision, Alice?” he asked her and a sudden fear entered her eyes. She jumped out of her chair and rushed towards him, throwing her heavy arms around his neck. Brandon had been quick to notice that in three weeks she had already started developing a beer belly. How much had she been drinking?
“Don’t say that, honey…we’re just going through a rough patch. When I start traveling with you, things will be better. We’ll get to know each other, you’ll see,” she said and pressed her lips to his cheek seductively.
The same woman, who four months ago, Brandon had believed was quirky and fun— now annoyed him. He tried to wriggle out of her grasp.
“Sit down, Alice,” he said and dejectedly, she walked back around the table and sat down.
“I need to discuss something with you. I should have brought this up before…before we even decided to get married, but I need to talk to you about it now,” Brandon said, and he could see Alice’s eyes widen.
“What is it?” she asked, in a frightened voice.
“I want children. To be completely honest with you, Alice, it’s why I was looking for a wife. I want to have an heir I can leave all my wealth and my business to. I believe I’ve reached that stage in my life when I want to build a legacy for myself. It’s probably a little late and I should have spoken to you about it sooner…” Brandon’s voice was weak but the smile forming on Alice’s face interrupted him. She leaned forward for his hand, over the table, pushing a danish off the plate with her elbow.
“You don’t have to say anything more, Bran. I understand and I want the same thing,” she said and he couldn’t help but sound surprised.
“Really? I didn’t think you would,” he said and his mind wandered to Jo again. Alice had demonstrated exactly the kind of mother she was capable of being, and he felt his heart harden a little. Was that the kind of mother he wanted for his own child?
“Yes, Bran. I want a baby. I know I’ve messed up everything with Jolie. I was a terrible mother to her. I want a second chance. I want to do it right this time,” she said and Brandon saw the sincerity in Alice’s eyes. She looked sad, she looked like a woman who was paying for her sins. She was begging him for forgiveness and who was he to deny her a second chance?
Brandon allowed his hand to wander towards Alice’s. When their hands touched, she smiled even more widely.
“I think this is exactly what we need, honey. This is exactly the new beginning we need. A fresh start,” she said and lifted Brandon’s hand to her lips.
He could barely hear her speaking, all he could think about was Jo and how he couldn’t stop dreaming about her every night. He wished he was holding her hand, and not her mother’s. It was wrong to think that way, it should have made him feel sick, but that wasn’t the case. Every time he thought about Jo, he felt like he was glad that he even met her.
“We’re going to be so happy together, Bran. I can’t wait to get started. We’re going to have such beautiful children together! I want a boy this time and then maybe a girl…no twins though…” Alice was speaking but Brandon couldn’t concentrate on a thing she was saying. His hand remained in hers and he continued staring at her, but he couldn’t help but think that this was all a huge mistake. But what choice did he have now?