Mariah held her forehead, her other hand going to her waist. She couldn't lose control of her temper right now, or she would arouse too much suspicion and lack of trust.
"I am sorry, mother." She started to say, but Mrs.Morrison did not look like she was about to be calm. "I just thought it would be better if he went with me because I know my way around. It is fine." She turned and left the dining hall, even before Mrs.Morrison could say a word.
Mrs. Morrison sat back down, her eyes filling up. "Did you hear elijah? I bet he has felt so neglected over the years. This is all my fault, really. I pushed him into this marriage so he would establish himself as a family man. He never looked happy or even in love. I should have known." She took in a deep breath and held her head with both hands. Stephanie put a comforting hand on her shoulder as Jennifer stood up.
"Let me check on Elijah, mother. I wil be back."
"No," Mrs. Morrison said. "Just stay with him, I will be fine."
Jennifer gave her a small smile and she made her way to the stairs.
Stephanie stayed with Mrs. Morrison, comforting her.
The door was slightly open when she got to it. She slowly knocked, then opened it, peeking her head through first.
Elijah wasn't in the room and she opened it wide, then entered and closed it behind her.
There was no sound coming from the shower, so he was definitely not in it. Elijah's blue suit jacket was thrown on the bed, however.
She walked to the glass door that separated the room from the balcony and opened it, the morning breeze hitting her face.
Elijah was standing there, a bottle of water in his hand. The scenery fron the room was breathtaking, with the sun only stretching across the sky, sending rays just enough to illuminate the world. But not enough to heat it.
She walked to him without saying a word and stood beside him, as she held her hands in front of her.
He looked at her, then thurned away again. "Is there something you want?"
She nodded at the question, making him turn to look at her. "What is that?"
"I just...feel like eating out today."
Elijah raised a brow. "You do?"
She nodded. "I want to eat in an art gallery with soft music, good food and happy people."
He stared at her and nodded. "I will take you there."
"Is there somewhere like that?"
"I believe so."
"With happy people?"
"We can eat in a private room."
"So where will the happy people be?" She asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.
He went silent for a few seconds, then turned away. "I am not unhappy." He said to her, then took a sip of water.
"But are you happy?"
He looked down at his polished shoes and shrugged.
"You know, Elijah...It is so essential to not be happy, we don't even realize it. But we have to be unhappy to know when we are happy. Or to even know we used to be happy. I guess we should appreciate what you are feeling right now."
He chuckled. "There is really no difference. Saying this, I feel like an attention seeker." He stopped, then took another sip.
"Is that why you occupy yirself with work so much? Because you feel even when you are around, you don't feel seen?"
He looked at her and laughed, shaking his head. "Am I not a little too old to want to be seen?"
"Is there an age restriction for that? It is just like happiness too. Can you say someone is too old to be happy? Or someone is too old to live? Or too young? I mean, we feel the very first touch of happiness and love the moment we open our eyes. If that isn't too young, then what could too old mean?"
He swallowed, thinking about it. "Now you sound like the poet between the both of us."
She smiled and leaned on the glass railing of the balcony. "I see you, Elijah. Mother sees you. I am sure even Mariah sees you. Remember that when you want to shut everyone out. We are all here."
He felt like a child. Being comforted by her made him feel like a child. Like some little boy that needs attention. And maybe he did need her attention. Maybe at some point he stopped bothering about whether people saw him, and only cared if she sees him. All he wants is for her to see him.
She smiled at him, the sides of her eyes crinkling with the genuineness of her smile.
"Do you still want to go there?" He asked.
"Where?"
"The art gallery...with slow music. Good food...and happy people." He cracked a smile as he said the last bit.
She smiled and nodded. "As long as the last part is you."
"I'll make sure the last part is me."
Mariah dialled the family doctor's nunber, her thumb nail lodged between her teeth as she paced around the room. He picked on the second ring.
"Hello. Doctor."
"Hello, Mariah. Is there something I can help you with?"
She nodded, knowing he couldn't see her. "I want to come to your office to discuss it. When are you free?"
The doctor was quiet for a second or two. "You can come tomorrow morning."
"Alright then. Expect me." She said, then hung up.
She couldn't risk talking on the phone about something as confidential as that, so she would meet him tomorrow morning.
Elijah went downstairs, but everyone was busy preparing for the ceremony. Even Mariah was with them now, and only Susan and Jennifer was absent.
Susan was resting, while Jennifer was getting ready. He sat on the couch, his legs crossed as he typed on the phone.
Ivan had something to tell him regarding the investigation, hut he didn't want to hear it right now. He was going out on what he considered a date with Jennifer, and he wouldn't let work distract him right now.
He told Ivan to let it wait till he came on monday, and Ivan understood.
Elijah waited a bit more, before Jennifer came down. She was wearing an open necked light peach gown that reached her knee. It was fitted right to her knee, with a belt on the waist. Her hair fell in waves in front of her, send she wore small earrings to go with it.
She could have as well not worn any accessories with the smile that was on her face as she made her way down to Elijah who was now standing, his eyes unblinking.
She walked to him slowly, trying not to look too clumsy with the heels.
"Is this okay?" She asked, pulling the gown as she stood rather uncomfortably.
"It is perfect." He said, then extended his hand to her. She took it, and they headed out.