Becca packs her luggage as her mother storms into the room.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Packing" she packs her deodorants
"Yes I can see that but why?"
She turns to her mom with her eyes swollen red. "Because I'm leaving mom! I can't.. I can't stay here! I can't stay in a house where everyone thinks we're golddiggers, that we're only after their money. We may be poor but we're not golddiggers!"
"Okay, honey just calm down" Becca ignores her and zips up her bag.
"Becca!" She turns to her in annoyance.
"We're not golddiggers yes but the moment you leave this house you will just prove even more to them that they're right!"
Becca sits and starts to cry.
"I'm so fucking frustrated and annoyed right now and all I can do is cry. It's annoying because ever since I got this new heart I've been shedding tears none stop like a cry baby!" She whines in tears.
"That's all right" her mom pats her on the back. "That heart is a blessing, a blessing we got through Mr Edward and his family, you're carrying the heart of a mother and a wife. You got mad at the harsh words Arthur said but don't forget that you're here to show gratitude for Mr Edward's kindness. So fuck what his sons think or say about us. You and I know the truth and that's more than enough"
"Yeah fuck them!" She cries
"We might need to work on those tears though" Becca chuckles with her mom.
Later, Edward, Clarice and Becca talk and laugh over lunch when Arthur and Albert walk in to see the scene of a family enjoying their meal.
"You know Mr Edward I really envy some people, they have a father but take him for granted. I wish I was the child of a billionare dad" she says audibly so the boys who are passing can hear.
Arthur stops to talk "Well congratulations, you hit the big shot remember, or have you forgotten the reason why you're here and not in the ghetto where you belong?"
"Arthur! One more word and you're grounded!"
Arthur laughs "You see that Albert? He's trying to act like a father now. Funny right?" Albert's face serious as ever as he makes no sound.
"You know I can't remember the last time he grounded me. Ahh! I remember, when I caught him cheating on Mom"
"That's it! You are grounded until you learn to watch the words that fall from your mouth!" Edward yells as his countenace changes to that of anger.
"Enjoy your family dinner, I hope I didn't ruin the mood" he walks to his room in anger and Albert follows.
At night, Clarice navigates her way to the kitchen and is startled by Edward's presence.
"Good gracious! Why're you down here sir?
"Oh please, I've told you to stop referring to me as sir" he takes a sip of his coffee
" You know you shouldn't be taking that at night. You might have trouble sleeping"
"Well its exactly what I need right now, something to wake me up from this nightmare of a life"
She takes a glass and takes hold of an emtpy glass bottle
"Out of milk. Great, just what I needed"
"Don't panic, we should still have extra in the cabinet" He reaches for the cabinet up exposing a little of his manly figure. "Well what do you know guess we are out of milk"
"Oh no"
He brings down his hand and turns to her with a carton of milk, smiling
She chuckles "Yes! Milk" they both chuckle.
"Who still drinks milk at this age?" He takes a seat beside her
"Who takes coffee at this time?"
He grins "Fair enough" She pours the milk into the glass and takes a seat before sipping it.
"So are just gonna sip milk while I drink coffee?"
"That's why we're here, is it not?"
"I mean yeah but I was thinking maybe we could talk while we do our business"
"Talk about what?"
"For one, I wanna know why you dragged the coat of the doctor as you knelt beside him. You might wanna consider a career in surfing" Clarice chuckles as she swallows the milk in her mouth.
"I was begging them to give my daughter a heart transplant.. which you already know about" she looks at him with a grin left off from the chuckle. "What do you really want to know?"
"Well, if you insist I ask. I wanna know everything there is to know about you"
"Okay, well, I got married at 21, had my daughter at 22, got divorced at 36 and now am here in your house with my daughter at 40. That's all there is to know about me"
"Mm...well planned life I see" Clarice chuckles
"What about you? What is there to know about you?"
"Well, I got married at 25, had Arthur at 26, Albert came a year later, lost my family at 36, lost my wife two months ago and here I am 46,in my kitchen drinking coffee and talking to my new wife"
"Contract wife" she chuckles
"How do you handle your daughter? She seems as cultured and obedient and beautiful as you"
"What can I say? She takes after her mom. No seriously, the obedient, calm and well cultured girl you see now is nothing but a facade. She can be a real pain in the butt"
Edward chuckles as they continue to laugh and talk.
"I can't remember the last time mom laughed like that" Becca says in her mind as the laugh of her mom and Edward echo over to her room. "This place may actually be where she finds happiness again ...and I've got to deal with that asshole of a brother I have" she walks to her bed to lay in its comfort.
Edward and Clarice chuckles while conversing
"Seriously, any man would be foolish to leave a woman like you" he takes a sip of his coffee with his gaze fixed on her.
Her big smile fades as she places the glass of milk on the table "I should go to bed now. It's getting late" she walks past him to leave.
"Clarice, it doesn't have to be a contract marriage you know? We can make it real" she turns to him and he sets his gaze on her awaiting the words from her mouth.