No Deal Breakers Read Online Free Page B

on
earth did she need a phone? Who did she have to call?
    "No, thanks, I don’t need one, you’ve already
done so much for me, I couldn’t ask for—" He cut her off with a
stern look and a tone that was more serious than she had heard him
use yet, a tone that said he wasn’t to be argued with.
    "Enough of that, I’m your husband, it’s my
job to provide for you, I’m doing it because I want to. Please let
me do things for you, it makes me feel useful. Besides, I have a
couple of errands to run while we’re at the mall, so I’m going to
leave you to do some shopping on your own, we’ll need to be able to
get in touch with each other." He had a point, she would use it
just to get in touch with him, and she wouldn’t feel so bad about
it-it was for his benefit. She sighed and nodded.
    Half an hour later they were headed back in
the direction of the mall. He had insisted she get a smart phone,
she had no idea how to use it, she’d never had a cell phone of her
own, she’d never had any real possessions at all.
    "I know you’re going to want to fight me on
this, so while you were sleeping this morning I made a list of the
things you’ll need to get. I tried to think of everything, but I’m
sure I missed something; this isn’t all you can buy, of course, get
whatever else you want; this is just the minimum that you need to
get. No arguments, please. I want you to be comfortable, and if you
think of anything else you need or want, please don’t hesitate to
get it." He handed her a folded piece of paper, she opened it
cautiously, her eyes popped open at the length of his list, he was
right, she would fight him on this. She took a deep breath and read
the list.
    There were at least thirty items on the list,
most of them she expected: shirts, pants, shoes, coats, hair and
toothbrushes, but some of the things he thought to add to the list
surprised her. He had thought of everything from deodorant to
underwear. He was so thoughtful, she looked back down at the list
and smiled at how hard he tried. Though he clearly didn’t know what
to call some of them, he had written things like "fancy body
scrubbers women use" and "lotions and other smelly things" but the
one that touched her the most was, "makeup, if you like to wear it,
you certainly don’t need it." His kindness seemed to be never
ending, but experience told her that it would end, at some point.
The reminder brought her back to reality and her anger started
anew.
    "I do not need all of that! A coat, a couple
of pairs of jeans, a few shirts, the underwear, and some of the
personal care items you listed, and that’s it." She crossed her
arms over her chest and lifted her chin indignantly. He found a
parking spot, shut the car off, and turned to face her.
    Her blood heated as he studied her face, she
was not going down without a fight on this. What was it about this
man that made her so comfortable expressing herself? Three days ago
she never would have allowed her anger to show like that toward a
man. For some reason, with Brian everything was different, easier
somehow.
    She didn’t know what to think or feel when he
just smiled and shrugged. He turned to open his door and over his
shoulder said; "That’s fine, I’ll just pick up everything you
refuse to."
    Before she could form a retort he was out of
the car on his way to her door. She was fuming. Why couldn’t he
just put a roof over her head and leave it at that? She hated being
so indebted to him knowing she could never repay him, or live up to
his wants and needs in a wife. He opened the door and stood back,
giving her space, as he always did.
    "Why do you have to be so stubborn? I don’t
want to have to owe you any more than I already do!" She was on the
verge of tears, she knew she should stop arguing and pushing him,
but she just couldn’t.
    "You owe me nothing! You are my wife!
Everything that’s mine is yours, I just want to take care of you; I
know you don’t trust me, but at least allow me to