Amanda walked out of Daisy’s room, her eyes moved to the clock on the wall, it was almost ten p.m
She had left Daisy's room just a few minutes ago, where Daisy was reading a bedtime story to Daniel.
The corridor was silent, except for daisy’s soft voice as she read Daniel his normal bedtime story.
They usually did it turn by turn, today Daisy would read to Daniel, tomorrow she would read to Daniel.
When Daniel was younger, she always acted like his father while Daisy acted like his mother and the boy seemed to like it, but now that he was a little more mature, they didn’t want him to start asking weird questions.
Amanda looked around as she walked down the staircase, she wondered where Becky might be. She had thought she would wait for her in her room but she wasn’t there when she checked.
Amanda looked around the empty hallway, feeling a concerned.
She knew that Becky would be feeling uncomfortable with the way Daisy had treated her, she just hoped she hadn’t left the house already.
As she got to then bottom of the stairs, she saw Kathy, the maid, she was dusting the living room furniture.
Amanda slowly approached her.
"Excuse me, Kathy, have you seen Becky?” She asked as she looked around.
“I thought she was in her room, but I didn’t see her there.”
Kathy looked up from her work, smiling sheepishly,
"Actually, Miss Amanda, I saw Miss Becky walking towards the garden a little while ago. She seemed tired and angry, so I didn't disturb her."
Amanda's eyes widened slightly. She wondered what could be on Becky's mind.
She hoped Becky wasn’t taking Daisy’s words seriously.
She wasn’t ready for the two most important people in her life to have issues and ask her to pick a side.
"Thank you, Kathy. I'll go check on her." Amanda said, smiling at the maid, as she made her way to the garden, the sound of gravel crunching beneath her feet.
She walked down to the last row of plants, her eyes shining as she finally saw Becky sitting on a bench, looking up at the night sky.
The moon was full moon, casting a silver glow over the garden.
Becky's eyes seemed lost in the stars, her facial expression was a mixture of sadness and anger.
Amanda looked towards the bench beside her, a bottle of whiskey sat open, next to a half-filled glass of whiskey.
Amanda frowned slightly, wondering if Becky was okay.
She hadn't seen Becky drink like this before, and it worried her.
"Hey," Amanda said softly, as she approached the bench.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" She asked gently.
Becky slowly turned her head, her eyes focusing on Amanda.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the only sound was the distant chirping of crickets and the frogs croaking in the garden.
"I was… I was Just enjoying the night," Becky said finally, her voice a little husky and deep from the alcohol.
"Just trying to clear my head and get my mind straightened."
Amanda sat down beside her, putting a gentle hand on Becky's knee.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, her voice soft and warm.
Becky looked over at her, before turning back to her glass of whiskey, downing the contents.
Amanda's eyes filled with concern as she watched Becky empty the glass.
"What's going on, Becky? You seem really upset." She whispered.
Becky sighed, refilling her glass and downing the contents again.
"I don't know, Amanda. I'm just thinking about life, marriage, everything and I feel like I'm stuck."
Amanda's hand on Becky's knee tightened a little.
"What do you mean by stuck?" She asked.
Becky's eyes moved away, as she stared blankly at the sky.
“After the wedding was ruined, my parents didn’t even check on me before they left, till now they haven’t even spoken to me.” She whispered, her voice shaking.
"I'm not sure my parents would accept me for who I am. I mean, they're always talking about me getting married to some guy, having kids... but what if I don't want that?" She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Amanda's eyes softened, as she looked towards Becky, the girl had tears in her eyes as she slowly sipped the whiskey.
Becky turned to her, her eyes searching for answers.
"Did your parents accept you, Amanda? When you told them you were a lesbian? Did they accept you for who you were?”
Amanda looked away, she slowly reached for the whiskey bottle, pouring herself a glass. She took a sip, as she purposely avoided Becky's eyes.
The silence between them grew thicker.
Both of them silently sipping the alcohol.
Becky's voice cracked as she spoke again,
"I feel so alone, Amanda. Like I don't have anyone. After the wedding was canceled and my parents left, I felt abandoned. And even you... you're always with Daisy now. I feel like I've lost my best friend too." She said, her words spilling out in a rush.
Amanda finally looked Becky in the eye, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and shame.
She set her glass down, turning to face Becky fully.
"Becky, you know that's not true," Amanda said softly.
"I'm here for you, always. I know I've been spending a lot of time with Daisy, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you, I care about you a lot.”
Becky laughted bitterly, as she took another sip.
"You have no idea how it feels, Amanda. To be constantly reminded that I'm not good enough, that I'm not the right person for you. My parents, the wedding, everything... it's all just a reminder that I'm alone in all this."
Amanda's face fell, as she listened to Becky speak, not wanting to interrupt her.
She knew that she hadn’t been a perfect friend to Becky, she had just been using Daisy as an excuse.
Becky shook her head, smiling sadly.
"I feel like I'm just a burden to everyone," She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like I'm just taking up space. And I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Amanda looked pained as she reached out to Becky, holding her hands.
"No, Becky, that's not true. I'm sorry if it feels that way, but I'm just trying to be there for Daisy right now. She's going through a really tough time with Ethan coming back into the picture."
Becky stared at her, her eyes filled with hurt.
"I know it seems like I'm always with Daisy, but she really needs me right now. Ethan's return has brought up a lot of old wounds, and I'm just trying to support her through it." Amanda continued, her voice gentle.
Amanda's hand on Becky's arm tightened. "You're more than a friend to me, Becky, and I care about you deeply. I'm not abandoning you, I promise. I'm just trying to be there for Daisy in her time of need." She said.
Becky looked towards Amanda, her eyes searching Amanda's face, looking for reassurance.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, silently.
Finally, Becky slowly nodded.
"I understand. I just feel so lost right now, Amanda." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her eyes filled up with tears as she took another sip.
"I understand daisy is your friend and you want to be there for her but what about me, Amanda? Who's going to be there for me? I feel like I'm falling apart, and I don't have anyone to turn to." She asked, her voice cracking.
Amanda eyes softened, she slowly pulled Becky into her arms.
"I'm here for you, Becky. I know it feels like I've been distant, but that's not true. You're more than a friend to me, and I care about you deeply."
Becky slowly pulled back, her eyes searching Amanda's face for reassurance.
"Really? Because it feels like you're always putting Daisy first."
Amanda smiled, taking a deep breath.
"Becky, I promise you, I'm here for you. I'll make time for you, I'll listen to you, and I'll support you. You're not alone, okay?" She said, her voice gentle.
Becky stared silently at Amanda for a while, before she finally nodded, a small smile on her lips.
“Okay.” She whispered.
The silence between them stretched as they both stared at the sky silently.
The only sound the was the sound of the whiskey bottle clinking against the tip of their glasses as they poured more whiskey.
Amanda slowly turned her head, her eyes looking down at Becky's lush lips.
Then back at Becky’s eyes, her breath hit against her face.
Without a word, She leaned in, her lips brushing against Becky's.
The kiss was soft, gentle, but it sent shivers down their spines.
Becky's eyes gently closed as she felt Amanda's lips soft against hers, her tongue in her mouth, searching for hers.
Becky raised her hand to Amanda’s hair, her fingers tangling in Amanda's hair as she kissed her deeply.
“Miss Amanda?” A tiny voice from behind called, distracting them.
Becky and Amanda quickly pulled apart.
Both of them staring at Kathy with guilt in their eyes.
“What do you want?” Amanda snapped.
“Ma’am, I wanted to ask if I should close the garden door as it is quite late already.” Kathy said.
Amanda rolled her eyes.
“Leave it and go, we’ll close it when we come it.” She said, her patience running thin.
“But madam it’s quite dangerous and…
“Go!” Amanda shouted, interrupting the woman.
Kathy quickly turned around, heading back the way she had come.
Amanda smiled shyly as she turned around to face Becky, both women cuddling in each other arms, sipping the whiskey and staring into the night sky.
Meanwhile…
Nolan stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist, his mind still reeling from the heated argument he had witnessed between his mother and grandfather. He couldn't believe they were still pushing for an arranged marriage, trying to control his life like he was some kind of puppet.
He walked into his bedroom, dropping the towel and slipping into a pair of comfortable pants and a white shirt. His eyes wandered to a photo on his bedroom table- a picture of his dad and mom, taken on their wedding day.
They weren’t even smiling, they looked like they had been forced to be there.
He couldn't blame them at all, aftrerall he heard that they both each had lovers of their own when their parents forced them to get married.
His mind was made up. He didn't want an arranged marriage, no matter how much his family pushed for it.
He wanted to fall in love on his own terms, at the right time, with the right person.
He thought about his parents' marriage, arranged by his grandfather, and how unhappy they seemed. He didn't want that for himself. He wanted passion, excitement, and true love.
Nolan walked over to the window, looking out at the night sky.
If the cost of disobeying his grandfather meant a year or two of being disowned, then he was ready to do it.
He would rather do that than get married to someone he didn’t want.
He had always obeyed his grandfather but this time he just couldn’t.
Nolan's attention moved towards the door, a smile on his face as his cat, Luna, walked into the room.
She jumped into his lap, purring contentedly as he picked her up and began to rub her head.
As he stroked her soft fur, he paused, his eyes widened in shock, he noticed that she was shedding more than usual.
He gently ran his fingers through her coat, noticing the loose hair.
"Luna, you're shedding a lot, aren't you?" he whispered, his face filled with concern.
“I’ve been so busy that I forgot to check up on you regularly.”
"I promise, I'll take you to the vet tomorrow, okay? We'll get you all fixed up." He said, as he rubbed her head.
Luna purred and nuzzled her head against his chest, as if understanding his words.
Nolan smiled, as he laid back on his bed.
Even Luna had freedom to do whatever she wanted so why would he live by his grandfather’s rules.
He would never do that.
Never.