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“I’m sorry, Mama. I’ll take care of myself. I’ll make some chamomile tea right now. Would you like some?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Setting the water kettle on the hook and pushing it into the fire, she pulled two cups from under the counter and busied herself adding chamomile leaves to a steeping bag she’d sewn years ago.
“You were out late.”
“Yes.”
She quietly inhaled and tried to make the heaviness go away. Setting both cups on the table she lifted the corner of the material on the window to see if there was activity outside. Only one person was up and about. The sun was beginning to rise.
Lifting the water kettle from the hook, she poured hot water into each cup, then sat at the table with her mom. She wrapped her hands around the cup to warm them and watched the water turn a faint green as the tea steeped.
Her mom’s hand lay on one of hers. “Elena, honey. Tell me what’s happening.”
She lifted her eyes to her mom’s and sighed. “We’ve already talked about this.”
“I want you to be safe.”
“I’m safe as I can...”
Knocking on the door stopped her. She stood and smoothed her clothing as she moved to the door.
“Who is it?” She asked.
“It’s Craig.”
She filled her lungs, then looked at her mom, held her finger to her lips. She waited for her mom to nod before lifting the lock on the door.
“Good morning.” She feigned cheer as she greeted Craig. Stepping back, she held her hand out to the room. “Please come in.”
He stepped in and glanced at the teacups on the table. “I need to speak with you.”
“Please sit down. Can I make you some tea?”
He pulled a chair away from the table as she closed the door.
“No. This shouldn’t take very long.”
Her stomach roiled and she worried she’d vomit the instant he started talking. She added another log to the fire, maybe she could heat him out of her cabin.
She sat and sipped her tea, hoping it would help her tummy settle.
“Elena. I’ve mentioned this prior to you but we didn’t settle on anything specific. However, it’s time you marry and have children. I know in the past my father allowed you to stay as you are because you’ve been the family who kept us in elixir. But we need our numbers to grow, and I’ve got to keep our group healthy and prosperous.”
She took a few deep breaths. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stared him in the eye.
“I don’t want to marry and have children. There isn’t anyone out there of interest to me.”
“There’s some younger ones coming along that would be a big help to you and your ma here.”
“I don’t want a young husband. Or a husband at all.”
He stood abruptly. “I demand you marry and have children.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “No.” She locked eyes with him. “Thank you.”
“How dare you disobey me.”
“Since when is it the president’s job to force people to marry? Everett never did.”
