Chapter 1 - The Blue Plastic Tub
|
The fragrance of gardenias still clung softly to the lace sleeves of my wedding gown. Half the hairpin pins were still embedded in my hair, pulling gently against my scalp as I unclasped my pearl earrings in the quiet guest bedroom. Less than four hours earlier, I had stood beneath an arch of white roses while Daniel Mercer slid a platinum band onto my finger, swearing in front of a hundred guests that he would honor and protect me for the rest of his life.
The door creaked open without a warning knock.
My new mother-in-law, Judith Mercer, stepped into the room. She was still wearing the stiff navy silk dress from the reception, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Without a word of congratulation, she dropped a heavy blue plastic laundry tub onto the hardwood floor at my feet.
Cloudy detergent water sloshed over the rim, splashing onto my satin heels. Floating inside were stained undershirts, heavy work socks, and several pairs of men's underwear.
"Wash them by hand," Judith said, her voice devoid of warmth. "You're Daniel's wife now. In this family, the women take care of the men."
I stared at the floating garments, then up at her calm, triumphant face. I waited for her expression to crack into a joke, but her eyes remained cold and calculating.
"There's a utility sink downstairs," she continued, pointing toward the hallway. "You'll finish these tonight. Tomorrow morning you'll be up at six to prepare breakfast. Tom likes his eggs over easy, Daniel takes his coffee black, and Eric doesn't eat toast unless it's fresh."
I took a slow breath, keeping my spine straight and my tone entirely level.
"Judith," I said quietly. "I married Daniel. I didn't apply for a housekeeping job."
May you like
Judith’s lips compressed into a razor-thin line. "A wife who thinks serving her husband is beneath her won't last long in this family."
"Then maybe the men in this family should learn where the washing machine is," I replied.
