Chapter 2
The next morning, I changed into a white shirt.
When Susan saw me pick up the family registers, her fork slipped and clattered against the bowl.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Getting married," I replied.
She stood up, her face draining of color.
"To Eric?" she asked.
"No," I said.
She gripped the edge of the table.
"Olivia, marriage isn't something you do on impulse," she said.
I handed her David's information.
"I'm not doing this on impulse. He's come to see you twice, and you said he seemed sincere," I said.
She read through it, then fell silent for a long time.
"Have you really thought this through?" she asked.
"I have," I replied.
She went to her room and came back with a red cloth pouch.
Inside was the gold ring my dad left for us.
"I'm not going to stop you. As long as you're not throwing your life away, I'll be with you," she said.
Outside the city hall, David was waiting for me in a dark gray coat, holding two cups of hot milk.
When he saw me, he didn't ask why I'd suddenly agreed.
He said, "Here, have some first. If you take photos on an empty stomach, you'll look pale."
I took the hot milk from him.
For the first time, I felt like someone actually saw me as a real person, not the well-behaved shadow by Eric's side.
At the marriage registration counter at city hall, the staff member checked our documents.
"Are both of you here of your own free will?" the staff member asked.
David looked at me.
He didn't answer for me.
"I'm willing," I said.
As the marriage certificate was handed to me, my phone buzzed a dozen times.
Eric had sent me a voice message.
I didn't open it.
Chloe also sent me a message.
[Olivia, Eric was with me at the shop all night. Please don't get the wrong idea. He said you're the most chill person ever, not the jealous type like some people.]
I set my phone face down on the table.
David asked, "Want to take care of it?"
"Later," I said.
"Okay."
He slipped the marriage certificate into a folder, taking his time like he was handling something precious.
I asked out of nowhere, "Aren't you worried I'll regret this?"
He replied, "If you ever want to turn back, I'll take you there. If you don't, I'll move forward with you."
His words weren't enthusiastic, but they eased a knot in my heart that had been there for seven years.
Later that afternoon, I went back to Eric's shop to pick up my things.
The place was buzzing with activity.
Chloe laid out a contract on the table, and everyone crowded around, applauding her.
Eric stood beside her, grinning with pride.
"Chloe deserves all the credit for landing the South Street renovation project," he said.
I stood at the doorway.
I'd pulled three all-nighters to get the first draft of that contract done.
The client hated anything flashy, so I highlighted every sentimental item the old folks couldn't bear to toss and suggested we keep them.
Eric complained it was a hassle and said the client only cared about the price.
Chloe slapped a new cover on my proposal and submitted it.
Now, she was the one getting all the credit.
Ben Brown, the shop assistant, spotted me and looked a bit nervous.
"Olivia's here," he said.
Chloe flashed a quick smile.
"Olivia, don't be mad, okay? I was trying to help Eric out a bit. Hope you don't mind," she said.
Eric walked over.
"Hey, you came in time. Can you organize those old South Street photos again? Chloe needs them for her client meeting this afternoon," he said.
"No, I'm not doing it," I replied.
The place fell silent.
Eric's smile disappeared.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"That's my stuff," I said.
Chloe lowered her head.
"Eric, maybe we should drop it. Olivia probably thinks I'm trying to steal her thunder," she said.
Eric frowned.
"Don't act like a child, Olivia. Chloe's helping out the shop, not trying to steal your spotlight," he said.
I set the keys down on the counter.
"Let her do it all herself then," I said.