Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 111: Her Strength

Chapter 111: Her Strength

Tony left work early. When he entered the house, he was welcomed with a hunger-inducing aroma of roast. She must be reheating the dinner from last night.

Ah...home sweet home!

He loved it when she got home early and the house smelled like food.

"Birdie!" he called for her. "I’m home..."

"In here..."

Marcella’s voice came from inside the bedroom. Throwing his briefcase and suit on the couch, Tony walked to the bedroom, loosening his tie.

"You’re early today," Marcella smiled. She was burping Joey.

"Couldn’t stop thinking about you," he kissed her. He couldn’t help but rub the bald head of the baby and kiss his little head.

Marcella giggled. She didn’t know what else she could say.

Isn’t he a romantic?

"Put him to sleep soon. I’ll take a shower," Tony walked out.

Marcella shook her head. She knew why he wanted the baby to be put to sleep soon. She was hungry. She needed to eat tonight.

Joey fell asleep after some time and she carefully placed him in the crib. She got out of the room and carefully closed the door. She heard Tony in the bathroom. He does take his time in the bathroom. She learned it only now.

She set the plate and waited for him. He came out in a few minutes. Looking at her, he grinned. "Birdie..." he leaned to her.

"What?" she pushed his chest, stopping him from reaching her face.

What an impatient guy!

"I’m hungry. Let’s eat."

Tony pouted and stood by her side.

"Are you going to carve the chicken or not?" she asked.

"As you wish, Milady," he said and gave her an exaggerated salute.

Marcella hid her smile behind her hands. She truly was hungry and she didn’t take it easy on the wine either. She finished dinner first.

"Is there ice cream?" She checked in the fridge. "Yes!"

She was glad to see a scoop of vanilla ice cream left.

"For me?" Tony asked.

"Here..." Marcella took the tiniest amount she could take on the spoon and fed it to him.

"Careful not to spill that spoonful of ice cream," Tony said in a sardonic tone.

"I am being careful," she licked the bottom of the spoon. Tony could only chuckle.

As always...

They did the dishes together. He washed the dishes and she dried and stored them.

Marcella poured herself another glass of wine. She saw the briefcase and suit on the couch. Before she said anything, Tony picked them up and replaced them. With a smile, Marcella sat on the couch.

"You’re not going to work tomorrow?" Tony asked sitting beside her.

She’s drinking a little too much.

"The meeting with Mclaughlin is the day after tomorrow, right?" Marcella leaned on his shoulder. Bending her knees, she leaned her weight on him.

"It is..." he said.

"Tony, you have your gang for my protection, right?" she asked.

"Yes, also for my career purposes," Tony said. "It is cheaper to have my own gang than to hire a gang each time I need it."

"I have an idea. You won’t need your gang anymore. Will you listen?" she asked.

"Okay... " Tony stood up and poured himself a glass of scotch.

Marcella explained her plans to him. Tony paced in the room as she detailed her plans. He didn’t interrupt her either to compliment or to criticize her plans.

"What do you say?" she asked.

Tony gulped the scotch from the glass. "It could work..." he said and pressed his lips in deep thoughts.

"You’ll still have your gang members working for you but there won’t be a gang anyone can attest you to. I know it’s totally dependent on others and it might backfire on us."

"No," Tony patted her shoulder. "It is a good idea. It will take some time, almost a decade, but if your plan succeeds, no one can beat us in anything."

"Think about it, okay," she said.

Tony kissed her forehead. "How did you think of this idea?" he asked.

Her plan, no, her vision was with the future in mind. She is just like her father.

Marcella told him about the conversation she had with Rosy.

"You thought of this plan from that interaction?" he asked.

Marcella shrugged. "I think a lot. Sometimes something good would come of it. Other times I just wallow in self-pity."

"You do not have to wallow in anything in the future. You have me to take care of you," he sat beside her and cuddled her.

"Refill my wine, please, Tony," she passed her glass to him.

Tony just sat but he stood up and got her the wine. "You’re going to regret this in the morning, Birdie," he kissed her.

"Mmm..." Marcella smiled looking into his eyes. She could feel his heartbeat on her palms. It was racing.

"You’re going to send Rosy for higher studies, aren’t you?" he asked.

He just had a feeling.

Marcella nodded. "Her face lit up talking about journalism, Tony. You should have seen her face... It would be a damn shame if she couldn’t pursue her interests."

"What are your interests, Birdie?" Tony asked.

She never asks him for anything. Come to think of it, he forgot something. He should give the gift cards he purchased to her.

"Me? I just want to stay home and take care of the family as my mother did," she said. "Boring, isn’t it? Are you disappointed?" She looked at him.

"Disappointed? No!" Tony held her cheek. "Why would I be?"

"Don’t you want a strong woman, Tony? One who commands people?"

Tony laughed. "Whatever made you think that you are not a strong woman?" he asked.

"I am?" Marcella lifted her head up. The wine glass slipped from her hand and Tony grabbed it from her hand to place it on the side table. But she got the wine glass from his hand and gulped down all the wine.

"That’s enough for you, lady," Tony got the glass from her hand and placed it on the side.

"You were saying?" she leaned to his face.

Her lips were tinted red with the wine and her breath smelled like wine. The neckline of the nightgown she was wearing slipped to the side leaving him with the titillating view of her chest. He couldn’t see everything and yet, that was sexier.

He slipped his hand to the back of her head and gently ran his fingers through the length of her hair.

"A weak woman wouldn’t have thought of a plan you did," he said.

"Clever people can’t be weak?" she asked.

"You walked into a bunch of FBI Agents and managed to play them like a fiddle," he added. "You’re not scared to meet with the notorious gang lords of the city..."

"Maybe..." Marcella shrugged.

Ah, the view...

Tony’s lower abdomen tightened as all his blood rushed there.

"What else?" she asked leaning closer to his lips. He felt her breath on his chin and in her caramel eyes, he saw his reflection.

"You’ve taken the role of a mother when you weren’t prepared for it and you’re killing it! You do it amidst your grief and pain... Not everyone can do it like you, Birdie..." he said and leaned to kiss her.

She leaned back, teasing him. Her tipsy face was blushed red and her eyes had a bewildering allure to it. Her red glistening lips were parted and he wanted to slip his tongue in between.

She chuckled.

"Motherhood... You think being a mother is better than the other roles?"

"Do you know the specialty of a woman? Only she can take something so small and nurture it with patience that could rival the patience of the almighty himself..."

"I’m not that patient though," she said.

"I don’t think so..." he shook his head. She is the epitome of patience when she’s with the baby.

"You want to quit your job?" he asked.

He could see that she was thinking about it seriously. She has already made her decision and she might be second-guessing.

"If you send Rosy to higher education, we will lose our trustworthy nanny. You are planning on staying home?" he asked.

’Yeah..." Marcella said.

"That’s a good idea," he said. "We can move to your family home and you can do what you want."

"You’re sure?" Marcella asked.

Tony nodded. Gripping the back of her head, he pulled her closer to him.

"I’ll love you no matter what, Marcella. You are my muse, my support, and my...my everything... I find strength in your strength. You have no idea."

He kissed her.

Marcella closed her eyes and let herself get swept away by the wave of his astounding love.

His love gave her strength. She forgot about the inhibitions she used to have, doubting herself. The more she heard him speak about her, the more she became confident.

She felt like there was nothing she could not do.

She felt safe. She felt loved.

She felt...

In love...