' Mr K? You are here?' Melody asks.
' The contract is ready so I decided to meet up with you so we can round up everything quickly.' Kevin replied looking at her gently.
Melody arched her eyebrow. Why was this nominal husband looking at her with sympathy.
' Sure, I just happen to be free.' Melody says as she enters the car as though it belonged to her.
Kevin's eyes twitched.
Half an hour later,
Melody read the contract. There was the pre nuptial agreement, attend all official meetings, be free from scandals, no interference and best of all, all her expenses would be borne by him.
She signed without hesitation and took her copy.
' Great. Next is the issue of you moving in.' Kevin says.
' Moving in?' Melody asks.
' We are married. We need to stay together.' Kevin replied.
' No problem but why the rush?' Melody asks.
Her precious tea leaves hadn't matured yet. All her delicious fruits were yet to be harvested and tomorrow was onesie day.
' My grandfather is coming to see me in the evening so I'm in a rush.' Kevin says
' You've gotta be f*cking kidding me.' Melody says getting slightly frustrated. Why was marriage so complicated? And it hadn't even been a day!
Kevin frowned at her indecent language.
' How old are you? You are too young to use such words.' Kevin says. He hadn't encountered anyone who spoke a curse word in his presence before.
' What the h*ll. I'm legally an adult. A married woman as a matter of fact. And how old are you? Fifty?' Melody replied.
' I'm 28.' Kevin says trying to contain his anger.
Melody gasp exaggeratedly.
' It's just January and you are 28. It means you will be 29 this year. *gasps* Then you are older than me with a decade. *tsk tsk* Little wonder you are so old fashioned. Did I really marry an old man?' Melody whispered ( at least that what she calls it) to herself.
Kevin felt like he could die from anger. He had to be rational, his grandfather was still waiting for a granddaughter in-law.
Kevin calmed himself and said to Melody.
' We have to make that place look like our home and then think of a story that led to our marriage. Can we head out now?' Kevin says.
' Send me the address. I'll get there in about an hour and half.' Melody says and leaves without waiting for his reply.
Melody rode her bike to Nature Haven.
She disembarked and looked at the gate.
Home. Her home. Thier home.
Nature Haven used to be a natural reserve till it was rewarded to four Platinum Rangers.
************
DontAskMeWhy:
So the army ranking in Fiesta Country is different from however the Ranking in your country is.
They are divided into classes ,Soldiers and Rangers.
The soldiers are ranked lower than the Rangers.
Both the soldiers and rangers are further divided into Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum. Platinum being the highest.
Please remember that this is a work of fiction.
***************
Melody rode into the gates. Nature Haven was actually a small beach that was backed by a hill.
On the shore were five brick cottages.
There was a lush garden on one side, where different fruits, herbs and tea leaves were grown.
If one looked closely enough they would notice four tombstones in a dark corner close to the hill.
Melody walked to the tombstones and sat in front of it.
' Father Wilson, Father White, Father Johnson, Dad. I got married. Unbelievable right? It might not last long but at least you are contented right? I'm moving in with him today. I'll be back once no thrice in a while to see you guys.' Melody says and then she enters one of the cottages.
She puts in a stuffed tiger, 3 pairs of shoes, three sets of clothes, three pjs, a portable sewing machine, some pieces of fabrics. She takes one bag and picked up her backpack.
She looked at the beach. The beauty of the beach always had a black lining of dread for her after the incident 10 years ago.
10 years ago,
' Dad, the cubs and I are going out. We'll be back for the afternoon party.' 9 year old Melody says as she picked her backpack.
' Come here you brat! Your Grandma Cha* is coming today. Learn something about cooking from her. When I was your age, I ....' Milo Maxwell was saying till Melody cut in.
' Not now, don't nag me now. Kitchen is not meant for me. I need to go and teach some people a lesson. Once I have a younger brother I will have to be a role model so let me settle my accounts now.' Melody says while tying her shoelaces.
' Melody Harmony Maxwell!!!!' Milo says.
' Give her a break Milo. Mother Mel knows what she's doing.' Melissa says rubbing her 7 months pregnant belly.
' Mel, don't side with her.' Milo says helplessly.
Melody smiled at her stepmother with approval.
As expected, the woman she chose for her father is top notch unlike that woman....
' Don't scold mom. You'll scare my little brother. And don't waste your energy. I'm going out and that's final.' Melody replies.
' Fine Do as you wish. But don't injure the person too much.' Milo relented.
' Sorry Network issues. I can't hear you.' Melody says and run out of the house.
An hour later,
Melody calls her father.
' Dad, the cubs and I might be late. ' Melody says.
' Sure hey what's this?' Milo says.
Some noises are heard.
' Dad what happened?' Melody asks.
' A drone delivered a package. It's from... Why did Bitumen send a parcel?..... Oh no... *BOOM*' The call gets disconnected.
' Cubs. Let's hurry back home.' Melody says with a grave expression.
The four children pedaled as though their lives depended on it.
When they arrived at nature Haven, they felt as though life was being sucked out of them.
The main house was on fire and Milo Maxwell was running away from the others with a bomb in his hand but it was too late...
Melody used her back to block Tony, Aiden and Jeremy's sight.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM*
Melody's knees felt weak and she fell on her knees.
A series of explosions occurred despite the distance between his position and the main house.
*Tak*
Two fingers still connected to their tendons landed on Melody's lap.
**************
Presently,
Melody shook her head. That was all in the past. For now, she was somebody's wife, mother and sister.
She took her luggage and left.
********
Cha is Chinese for tea. A nickname for Grandma who loves making and drinking tea.