CHAPTER8: THE UNEXPECTED PUSH
MARYANN'S POV
It started with a shout, sharp, impatient, and all too familiar.
"Maryann! What on earth are you doing? You should've been dressed by now!" Said my stepmom.
I hurried towards the living room. The clacking of Lisa's heels against the marble floor made her sound even more agitated than usual.
There she stood, my stepmother, impeccably dressed in a crimson satin gown that hugged her figure and glistened under the chandelier light.
Her short, curled hair was sprayed into stiff perfection, and the look she shot me could've soured milk.
"Why are you not ready yet? Did you forget about Mr. Jonadab's party? Again?" She asked.
I swallowed the sigh forming in my throat. Of course, I hadn't forgotten.
It was scrawled in bold red ink on
the calendar, as if Lisa feared the ink might fade if not bold enough, I had let the time slip by.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was this late," I said quietly.
Lisa scoffed. "Sorry? You're always sorry, Maryann. You think that's
enough? Go upstairs right now and put something decent on. Don't embarrass me in front of the Jonadabs and the rest of the neighborhood." She said, angrily.
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and made her way toward the front door, leaving the scent of her overpowering perfume trailing behind her.
I clenched my jaw. I hated that she could always make me feel so small with just a few words.
But I also knew better than to argue. So I turned around and climbed the stairs two at a time.
She'd wait for me at the party, she said
Like this was some royal event and I was the shameful servant-girl she had no choice but to bring along.
Up in my room, I flung open my closet and stared. Nothing in there ever seemed appropriate for these kinds of events.
Most of my clothes were either too casual or too outdated, things I
inherited from relatives or managed to buy with my own money from teaching jobs.
After a moment, my eyes landed on a rich wine color dress I hadn't worn in months.
It was simple but elegant, with a flowing skirt and delicate straps. I
paired it with a pair of low heels, brushed my hair into a neat ponytail, and added the lightest touch of makeup.
As I looked in the mirror, I didn't see a showstopper, but I saw someone
presentable.
Someone who could hold her head up high, even if her stepmother didn't think she belonged.
By the time I reached Mr. Jonadab's house, the party was already in full swing.
The ground lit up like a gala, with cars lining both sides of the street. I
could hear music and laughter spilling out of the open front doors as I approached.
The scent of grilled meat, wine, and sweet cologne hung in the air.
I stepped inside, immediately met by a wave of warmth and chatter. The living room had been cleared of furniture and filled with round tables draped in cream linens. Waiters moved around with trays of finger foods and glasses of
champagne.
I scanned the crowd, looking for Lisa. She was easy to spot, near the center of a circle of women, laughing with her mouth open just a bit too wide,
performing her role as the perfect socialite. She didn't notice me.
Good.
I slipped through the room as inconspicuously as possible, grabbing a sparkling water from a passing waiter.
I didn't feel like mingling. I wasn't here for fun, I was here because Lisa demanded it. And yet, part of me was curious.
These parties were where connections were made, secrets whispered behind designer fans, and reputations built or destroyed with a single comment.
I found an empty seat near the window and sat down. From there, I could observe. Mr. Jonadab himself was in his usual glory, dark suit, loud laugh, and a cigar he never lit but always held.
He greeted everyone like old friends, even if he couldn't remember half their names.
Then, something, or rather, someone, caught my eye.
A man stood near the bar, talking to a group of other guests. "Oh my goodness, that's him, the guy I saw through the window," I said to myself with my heart pounding so fast.
The way my heart skipped, made me looked away quickly, heat rushing to my cheeks.
I wanted to vanish.
I immediately looked around and saw where some children where playing, then I decided to join them, knowing fully well that it will be a great distraction
for me.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of meaningless conversations,
awkward smiles, and strained interactions. But something had changed. Hanging around with the kids made me, I didn't feel like a complete outsider.
Someone had seen me, not just Lisa, not just as the girl who forgot the time,but Maryann. And somehow, that made everything else a little easier to bear.
As I finally made my way back home and changed out of the rich wine coloreddress, I couldn't stop thinking about the way Henry had looked at me, whichmade me look away very fast. Not with judgment. Not with pity. Just...
interest.
Maybe next time, I wouldn't wait to go talk to him.
Maybe, just maybe, I'd go for me.