The house watched in shock as Mrs Beatrice led June to the couch with excitement written on her face.
“Oh darling, please sit. Tell me, how did it happen? Did he drag you to the altar? How could you even have a secret wedding without me?”
June suddenly felt overwhelmed, but her mother-in-law was not stepping on the breaks anytime soon.
“Who are your parents? Ow, they must think my son kidnapped their daughter. This won’t do! We have to re-do the wedding. This time, we do it the right way!”
“Mother..”
“You don’t have to worry, I will handle everything, you just need to show up. Everything will be-”
Rafael stepped in when he noticed June’s state, “Mother. Enough.” He said in a firm voice. “There will be no wedding.”
Mrs. Beatrice turned to her son, “And why is that? You already got married son, I just need to make it official.”
“The papers are sufficient proof of marriage. We don’t need to have another wedding.” He said, forcing his mother to turn to June.
“Do not let him bully you into settling for less, erm-” Rafael’s mother stopped, finding she didn’t know the name of her daughter-in-law. June was happy to help.
“June. June Ri-”
“Oh dear! June is a beautiful name. I can’t wait to tell everyone the name of my daughter-in-law, Rafael does know how to pick the name well.”
Marie who stood on the side and watched them interact with smoking ears soon couldn’t take it anymore. “What is going on?! Are you seriously buying into this, mother?”
“Shush, I need to speak to my daughter-in-law.”
“I am your daughter-in-law!” Marie stomped her feet, “She is just a maid!”
Rafael’s jaws tightened and he turned to give an order, but his mother beat him to it.
“How dare you?” Gone was the excited look that Rafael’s mother embodied. “How dare you speak about my daughter-in-law in such a manner?”
A scowl painted Marie’s face. “You told me I was going to be your daughter-”
“Why is this woman still here?” Mrs Beatrice asked with a raised eyebrow that spelt nothing good for Marie and her tantrums. “Fling her out this instant!”
The guards who were silently listening to their conversation immediately went into action. Before Marie could utter a word, one of the security men lifted her off the ground, while the other went for her things stored in the room.
“This is not over! You can’t do this! Let me go!” Marie screamed until she was out of earshot, creating a scene.
Soon enough, her things were dragged out of the house and dropped outside with her. Only then did Mrs. Beatrice feel satiated.
“Now that’s over,” She turned to June, “I was thinking we could have the wedding next month. Two weeks?”
Rafael fought the urge to roll his eyes. “There will be no wedding.”
His mother paid him no mind. “Just say the word and we can make it happen. What do you say, daughter-in-law?”
June felt put in the spot as all eyes were on her. Her eyes connected with Rafael and he gave a subtle shrug, as though it was truly up to her, a sight that did not escape her mother-in-law’s watchful eyes.
Seeing the duo interact so silently made Mrs Beatrice’s heart full. Not only did this woman have a special connection with her grandson, but her son also adored her, she had struck gold with this daughter-in-law of hers!
She was going to keep her no matter what!
“We can have the wedding,” June said and her mother-in-law clasped her hands, a smile blooming on her face.
“Yes! That settles it then! Rafael, call the-”
“However, I’d prefer if it happens in the next six months,” June added, cutting her short.
Mrs Beatrice cocked her head to the side in question. “Why?”
A small blush, “I think my husband and I need to find our footing first as a couple. We had a flash marriage and we are still trying to-”
“Ahhh, the honeymoon phase! I understand. Don’t you think one month is enough? I know you young lovebirds are very active and full of love-”
June, “!!!!”
“Mother! I think you misunderstood! We are not active and all of those things.” June blurted, feeling embarrassed while Rafael stood without shame.
He knew his mother was trying to get a reaction out of them, she took pleasure in making him and his wife squirm while putting on a serious face.
His mother made an Oh sound, “You are not active?” Her tone was shocking. “Is there a problem? Why are you not active?”
“Maybe because they sleep in separate rooms.” Luis’s voice was heard from his seat.
Somewhere along the line, he had busied himself with some puzzle, not bothering to spare them a look although actively listening.
“Baby!” June whispered in mortification.
“You sleep in separate rooms?” Mrs Beatrice tutted, “We can’t have that, how then are you going to become stronger as a couple? I cannot accept this!”
“Mother, modern couples hardly sleep on the same bed.” June managed to speak, her cheeks heated more than ever.
“Nonsense! That is why divorce is more rampant these days! As a married couple, you must sleep in one bed, and share a room as well as your hearts! You don’t need to be apart for whatever reason.”
“Mother..”
“In fact, starting tonight, you will both sleep in the same room.” His mother declared. “Good thing I came here prepared to stay for the next couple of weeks. I will make sure you are both whipped to shape and ready to have the wedding before I leave.”
At this rate, June thought she would be ready to have a baby before she left! That is if her scheming and wicked sister hadn’t destroyed her womb!
June suddenly went silent, nursing heartache at the thought of never mothering a child. Rafael stepped closer to her and soon, she felt his fingers interlock hers.
“We don’t have to do anything.” He said to his mother. “My marriage. My rules.” He accentuated his words, using a firm tone.
Although his mother wanted to push the motion, the sight of them as a united front was too good to make her put them in a bad mood. She wasn’t giving up, she chose to revisit the subject matter later.
Preferably at night and when her son was not there to hinder her ideas from bearing fruit. She had the feeling that convincing her daughter-in-law was the same as convincing her son.
She was going to focus her attention on them now.
That night, June retired to her room after a long and chatty dinner with her mother-in-law and the family. She just finished bathing when she suddenly heard knocks on the door.
Thinking it was Luis, she opened the door but connected her eyes with her mother-in-law, dressed in casual clothes. A tired smile made its way to her face.
Was she here to haul her to Rafael’s room?
“I’m sorry to bother you, my child.” She said with a sombre expression. “Were you asleep?”
June suddenly felt bad and tried to put on a more cheery look. “Of course not, I just left the shower. Please come in, is there something you need, Mother?”
Mrs Beatrice stepped into June’s room. A look of approval flickered on her face as she noticed the cleanness of the space where her daughter-in-law lived. A testament to the fact she would make the perfect wife!
Nothing like those models and spoilt children that was a lot to maintain and pined after her son. Everything about her daughter-in-law only seemed to make her happy.
She was indeed an angel.
“I made something for my son, but I can’t seem to find his room.” She said with a distraught look on her face, “If you could please follow me to the kitchen so I hand them over to you..”
“Of course, I will just wear something and-”
“No! I mean, it’s just a quick errand. You don’t need to pull off your night dress, we will be done before you know it.”
June looked stuck between choices. She was wearing a white short dress that could be transparent depending on the lighting. The last thing she wanted was for Rafael to think she was there to seduce him.
Or worse, actually seduce him. With or without a womb, she was still a woman, and he, a man.
Soon enough, June was whisked away by her mother-in-law, who boiled some foreign tea in the kitchen, tagging it something that relaxes the nerves and helps one to fall asleep easily.
“Here you go,” She handed the tray to June, who received it with a smile.
Rafael’s mother was such a loving woman, she thought. If only her mother was a bit like her. When June arrived in front of Rafael’s office, she stopped, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“Go on dear, knock.” Her mother encouraged her, and then knocked on the door. “Remember, do not come out without the cup.” She said with a smile and stepped away from June who soon came face-to face with her husband.
He didn’t look pleased to see her.