Chapter 2
"The clients were just messing around and made us take that photo," Edward said, blocking the phone with his hand, his knuckles turning white.
I looked up at him.
"Did the clients make you write that caption too?" I asked.
"Melissa posted that caption. I didn't even notice," Edward said, gripping my shoulder firmly. "Julie, just go home. Don't make a scene here."
Melissa stood up and slipped off her trench coat, handing it to me.
"If this coat bothers you, just take it. It got cold during the business trip, and Edward lent it to me so I wouldn't catch a cold," she said.
I spotted two embroidered letters inside the collar: ML.
This coat was never meant for me.
"No, really, you keep it," I said.
I didn't ask any more questions. I just turned and walked out of the private room.
Edward caught up to me at the elevator and draped his coat over my shoulders.
"It's cold outside. Put this on," he said.
Two years ago, when I was with him for a client meeting, he'd always hold the elevator for me. Now, his phone rang three times, and he didn't even glance at it.
Melissa's name kept flashing on the screen.
"Just go back. She's waiting for you," I said.
"I'll take you home first," he said, pressing the close button. "If you don't like her, I won't bring her along unless I really have to."
I looked away.
"What about that mountain photo?" I asked.
"I'll delete it," he said.
Right in front of me, he opened his phone, found the photo, and deleted it, caption and all.
"We stayed at the same hotel because the company arranged it. She had an asthma attack, so I just went in to give her her inhaler. That's all, Julie. I promise, I never crossed the line with her," he said.
That was just what I needed right then.
I gripped the collar of his coat and finally looked at him.
"Really?" I asked.
"Really. You're my wife. I know how to respect you," he said.
The elevator doors slid open, and he took my hand.
Maybe I was just overthinking all of this. I was probably making too big a deal out of a simple business dinner.
The next day, I arrived early at the Harper Residence for the family dinner.
Genevieve was busy setting out the place cards in the living room. She put Melissa's name on the left side of the main table, while mine was placed on the right.
I hesitated, then asked, "Mom, did you put my seat in the wrong spot?"
"Melissa's helping Edward entertain the guests, so it's easier for her to sit closer," Genevieve said, handing me a stack of menus. "Go check the dishes in the kitchen. Don't let the guests see anything messy."
Melissa came downstairs, now wearing Genevieve's prized diamond necklace.
"Auntie Genevieve said I looked too plain today, so she let me wear this to help me stand out. Julie, you don't mind, do you?" Melissa said.
That necklace was the one Genevieve wore at her own wedding.
She always said it would go to her daughter-in-law.
"It's Mom's jewelry. She can give it to anyone she likes," I said.
Genevieve frowned.
"What kind of attitude is that? Melissa just closed a huge deal for Edward. All you ever do is serve drinks. What else are you good for?" she snapped.
Edward walked in from outside, and his gaze went straight to me.
"Why are your hands so cold?" he asked.
He took my hand, then pulled out a pair of cashmere gloves from a paper bag.
"I grabbed these for you on the way. See if they fit," he said.
They fit just right, and the color, gray-blue, was exactly what I liked.
I let him hold my hand.
Genevieve sighed.
"Just keep indulging her. Melissa went with you on that business trip, caught a fever from the cold, and I never saw you get her anything," she said.
Edward paused, then handed Melissa another paper bag.
"I got you a scarf too. Bought it together with Julie's gloves," he said.
Melissa unfolded the scarf, it was the same gray-blue as my gloves.
"Edward, you've got such good taste. This is my favorite color," she said.
I slipped off the gloves and quietly put them back in the bag.
"Don't you like them?" Edward stopped me, concern in his voice.
"They fit, but I just don't want to wear them," I replied, avoiding his gaze.
When the family dinner started, I was given the seat closest to the door.
At the last minute, the Germian guests asked to switch the conversation to Germian, and Genevieve wasted no time telling Melissa to move over and sit right next to Edward.
Melissa kept tripping over her translations, sometimes giving totally off-topic answers.
I stepped in to fix one of her mistakes.
Genevieve set her fork down for everyone to see.
"If you don't know what you're talking about, just stay out of it. Melissa's got the certificates, what are you showing off for, you're just an order coordinator," she snapped.
"She just translated 'exclusive agent' as 'regular distributor,'" I said.
I grabbed the menu and jotted down the correct Germian terms for both on the back.
The guests read it and nodded in agreement.
Melissa clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm.
Edward grabbed the menu out of my hand.
"That's enough. It's good enough. This is a family dinner, not your business class," Edward said, cutting me off.
After the guests left, Genevieve had someone bring over an extra chair.
"Let's take a family photo. Melissa, you sit next to me. Julia, go get the camera," she said.
I just stood there, not moving.
Edward looked at me for a couple seconds, then stood up and offered me his seat.
"Julie, you sit here. I'll take the photo," he said.
He handed his phone to Melissa, then pulled me over to the main spot.
That little gesture was just what I needed right then.
Just as I reached out to touch his sleeve, Genevieve spoke up.
"What are you doing? Next month, you and Melissa are going to be living in Murvach for three months. The clients specifically asked for a picture of you two together, so let her sit beside you for the photo."
Edward let go of my hand.
Melissa slid into the seat beside him, the diamond necklace resting against her chest.
Just before the photo was taken, Genevieve looked right at me.
"Julia, move over a bit. Don't get in their way," she said.
The shutter clicked.
In the photo, they looked every bit like a family.
All one could see of me was half a shoulder.