Chapter 13

Sherry pouted at James in Martha’s living area. “Why did you do that for her? Hmm? Did she pester you about it?”

James sat unnerved next to her. “I told you. I just want to help her grandma out. It’s what my father would’ve done.”

She tugged on his sleeve some more. “Promise me it’s nothing more. Promise?”

He nodded and pulled her in for an embrace assuring her.

***

A few days later, Hannah was at the mall alone shopping for more work clothes while she ran into a beautiful, familiar woman. “Oh, Sherry. I’m sorry for bumping into you. Excuse me.” She smiled politely and turned to carry on.

Sherry turned around and pulled down her shades to look at Hannah. “Wait.”

“Erm, yes?” She continued to smile warmly.

Sherry put on a pretentious gentle smile and said, “Hannah, right?” She intended to make Hannah feel unimportant.

“Yes,” Hannah answered awkwardly.

“We didn’t have much time before to get to know each other. Somehow, I feel a little obligated to give you some of my time given the fact that your current estranged husband will be my future husband soon. I promise, I won’t ask for any repayment of my future husband’s money you’re using now.” She sneered at Hannah.

Hannah was so shocked that her heart started to thump. Did Sherry really just say all that? Accused her of using James’ money? What should I say back?

Hannah smile went away slowly and she replied, “I’m sorry, maybe I misinterpreted your intention but I want to assure you there’s nothing between James and I. Also, I’m using my hard-earned money. Excuse me.” She paced quickly out to her cab with her heart still pounding. This was Hannah’s first encounter privately with Sherry. What happened to the polite and sweet woman at the family dinner?

The maid went to fetch Hannah for dinner. When she arrived at the table, James was already sitting and waiting. He was expressionless as usual. Dinner tonight was extremely quiet. They usually tried to keep a short conversation but tonight neither one said anything. Finally, James asked, “What did you do today?”

Hannah still kept her head down pondering whether to answer him honestly or not. But she wasn’t a good liar either.

“Went shopping.”

“Mm. A special occasion?”

“No.”

James noticed her short answers and slightly set his utensil down. “Are you okay?”

When he asked that, Hannah felt like an overfilled bottle and needed to spill over to relieve. She slammed her utensil and looked at James with concerned eyes. “James, please don’t ever give Sherry the impression that I’m using you. I’ve never asked for anything and I don’t appreciate being accused of living off others when I work hard for what’s mine.”

“Whoa. Hold on. Where’s all this coming from?” James leaned back with his arms crossed.

Hannah’s head finally hit earth again and had a realization that maybe James truly didn’t know what was going on. “No…nothing.” She got up quickly and retreat back to their bedroom, but he was quick to grab her wrist.

“I believe I deserve an explanation what the hell that was about?” He stood up and looked down at her.

“Sherry is under the impression that I’m living off of you.” She had calmed down a bit and spoke normally.

“Ha. You women are so unpredictable.”

“You know what? I did let her know that every cent I’m using is from my own hands. So why don’t you focus more on reassuring your girlfriend that I’m not interested in taking anything from you. Just…leave me alone.”

James squeezed her wrist harder. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that. I had no idea she even ran into you.”

Hannah swung her hand out of his grasp and tears welled in her eyes. She took for the stairs and called it a night.

***

In the glass office, Sherry was sitting on the corner of James’ desk with a troubled look. “I didn’t say any of that. I just gave her some fashion tips.”

“Whatever it is, avoid her from now on.” James massaged his eyes as if highly stressed.

“I was trying to befriend her. I didn’t know she would lie about all those things I did not say, James.” She frowned and pouted, “Don’t tell me you believe her over me.”

James looked at her irritably and said, “Don’t do that now.” He took her hand gently and said, “Go. Just forget it, okay? Avoid her from now on until the contract is over. I’ll come see you after work.”

Outside the office, Sherry called Martha to complain. She knew Martha would definitely side with her and scold James about it later for not believing Sherry.

After a night at dinner and the movies with Sherry, James didn’t bother letting Hannah know he’ll be home late, but she didn’t care either way. She was fast asleep when he quietly entered the dark room but was awakened by his phone ringing. It was Sherry to check on him whether he got home yet. Hannah heard the conversation but put it off and went back to sleep.

Knock, knock.

Hannah looked away from her computer and saw Ricky smiling at her classroom door.

Ricky came to sit in front of her desk and said, “I want to ask a big favor from you. You can decline if you don’t want to. “

“Try me.”

He smiled politely. “I won’t be here tomorrow and have a ton of homework to grade that I won’t be able to get to over the weekend. I was wondering if you could stay after school and help me grade as much as possible and take whatever rest home with you over the weekend?”

Hannah responded, “Oh my goodness. I thought you were going to ask something big. Ricky, that’s nothing. Sure. I’ll help you. Where are you going?”

“Just going back to visit my grandparents back in my hometown.”

It reminded Hannah of Nai Nai’s situation. She will bring it up later with James when she gets the chance. The time was now ten at night and James, who was waiting anxiously, just saw the same vehicle as before stopping at the property gate and letting Hannah off. He snuck back upstairs quietly secretly angry.

“You’re not asleep?” Hannah asked James who was sitting on the couch near the lounge area by the TV in their bedroom. She had just set her pile of homework down. “I was wondering if we could talk about relocating my Nai Nai soon.”

He replied to her with another question coldly,” How often should I be expecting another man to send you home so late?” James tried to sit cool and calm looking out the window. He looked authoritative with his fists clenched.

Hannah was a little shocked to hear James’ question. Was his intention well or not?

“What…what did you say? James, that’s my colleague. We’ve been grading assignments all night. Please don’t misunderstand.” But why did she care for him to misunderstand when they were not involved with each other and he was actually intentionally out with his long-time girlfriend last night too? Hannah foresaw the useless argument to come and immediately turned away.

James briskly followed her as she tried to walk into the bathroom, grabbed her hand, and pushed her up against the wall. “As long as you carry the title of Mrs. Chen, you should act properly even if you have urges or lust for other men. Until you can act your part accordingly, don’t even think about your grandma.”

Plop!

Hannah slapped him hard. She was heaving for breath out of fear and shock. “I’m not lowly like what you think of me. I don’t talk down on you or question you when you are secretly wedding planning and going out with Sherry. Please, just leave me alone. I’ll just take care of Nai Nai on my own.”

“You…you look so innocent, but maybe what Sherry said about you is right.”

Hannah felt depleted being talked down on. She’d never face anything like this before. “Believe what you want.” She said plainly.

She walked to the bathroom and locked the door for a long time before coming out to find James gone again. Hannah had never faced animosity or argued as much as she has with James lately. It troubled her greatly.

James couldn’t fall asleep all night at his mother’s while his mind was occupied with so many things. He couldn’t understand why he suddenly had been lashing out on Hannah with her whereabouts. Also, how did Hannah know about the secret wedding planning? Would she snitch to Uncle Henry and jeopardize his position?