Chapter 8

• Leo kept ignoring Alicia, and after talking with Margaret a few months back, she realized that Margaret had had it worse in her marriage and was just trying to be happy. At first, she had convinced herself that Leo was just mad at her and that it would die off soon, but after hearing what Margaret had to say, she couldn’t keep quiet anymore. She had written over a dozen letters, asking him what was wrong and if they could fix their relationship, and his reply always came either three weeks or a month later, telling her everything was fine and that he was just busy and hardly had time for himself anymore.
• At first, she wanted to make up excuses for him, but she knew she was deceiving herself. He was constantly contacting his family, and she knew it. They were always leaving their letters from him lying around so that she would see them. It was not helping if Nala was feeling the lack of affection too, and she found herself wondering if this was what Margaret was going through. Every day she tried to act cool, carrying on with her duties, but at night, she had to force herself to sleep, and sometimes, she had to cry herself to sleep. If he really does not have time for himself, where does he get the one he uses in writing letters to his family?
• The more she thought about it, the more broken and lost she felt. And at some point, she started welcoming Mary and Joy’s unbelievable orders since they helped take her mind off things. As she was making dinner in the kitchen, she heard Joy squeal and rushed out immediately to find out what was happening.
• “What is it?” she came out in time to hear Mary asking.
• Joy first glanced at her before replying to Mary. “Leo said they are winning the war. He said with the help of the Shadow soldiers, that the Barbarians have started retreating, and because of that, the war would be over soon, and he would be coming home.”
• “Are you serious?” Mary asked, overjoyed.
• Three years, Alicia thought, three years and four months. That was how long the war had lasted, and now they were winning, and it would be over soon. Leo would be coming home soon; her life of misery would soon come to an end. She couldn’t believe it, although she was hurt that she had to hear the news from someone else, that Leo didn’t choose to write to her, the Luna of the pack, about this new development; she was too happy to feel sad. Too happy to think about any other thing but the fact that it will be over soon, that everything will finally go back to normal.
• A resounding slap on her cheek woke Alicia up from her daydream. She touched her stinging cheek, staring at Mary in shock. Mary had done a lot of things, ordered her to do a lot of things, but she had never raised her hand against her. It still felt surreal to her that for some seconds, she couldn’t say anything, just staring at Mary.
• “What the hell are you doing standing there? Can’t you see that what you are cooking is burning? Do you want to burn down the house?” Mary yelled at her.
• Alicia woke up from her shock and reacted first by rushing into the kitchen and turning off the cooker. From the kitchen, she could hear Joy and Mary’s discussion.
• “Mom, you didn’t have to slap her. She was just happy to hear that the war would soon be over. Besides, it’s bad enough that Leo didn’t write to her about it,” she heard Joy say and froze in shock. What was happening? When has Joy ever been on my side? She couldn’t believe it.
• “Joy, what has gotten over you? Since when do you care about how I treated her?” Mary’s surprised voice was heard, and Alicia found herself supporting her, like Joy’s words were indeed a surprise.
• “Mom, Leo is coming back soon. I don’t think it was worth it before, angry with her for being happy. Besides, if the food burn, she would just have to make another. Come, I think I know a way to settle this,” Joy said.
• “What’s happening?” Alicia asked Nala, but the wolf didn’t reply to her. Ever since she had decided to stoop so low as to serve Mary and Joy, the white-wolf had been ignoring her whenever it had to do with her in-laws. Soon, Joy and a reluctant Mary entered the kitchen.
• “Alicia, Mom didn’t mean to slap you just now,” Joy said, pulling Mary forward. “She has just been starving and hated the idea of having to wait for you to make new one. Go on, Mom, tell her.”
• Alicia was too stunned to speak. For over a year and four months she had been living with them; this was the first time Joy was acting like this. It was too unbelievable that it felt like a dream to her. “What’s going on?” she felt she needed to ask.
• Mary rolled her eyes, “I guess I went too far with striking you just now. Just forget about it.”
• Forget about it? Alicia couldn’t reply.
• “Okay, okay,” Joy butted in, smiling. “I know you must be offended, and I know the best way to put this behind us.” Alicia and Mary stared at her, and she chuckled, approaching Alicia. “Your twenty-fifth birthday is in three days’ time, right?”
• Alicia frowned, “Yes.”
• “How about I throw you a party?”
• “Joy!” Mary was flabbergasted.
• Alicia’s frown deepened. She had contemplated having a party for herself too, but decided against it last week, feeling like there was no need for it. She couldn’t bring herself to have a party when the war was still ongoing. Now, hearing Joy offering to throw her one, even though she would be the one to sponsor it, she was actually excited. Nothing exciting had happened to her in three years, apart from her wedding. A birthday party wouldn’t be so bad, after all. “That won’t be necessary,” she decided to play it cool, just in case Joy was toying with her.
• “No, no, no, don’t say that. I’m serious. You deserve it; besides, the war will be over soon. Call it an early celebration. What do you say?”
• “But, Joy,” Mary tried to object.
• “Come on, Mom, a little party won’t hurt. And besides, it’s not every day someone turns twenty-five. I’m actually looking forward to mine next year.” Joy grabbed Mary's hands and stared deep into her eyes. Alicia couldn’t tell if she was seeing things, but it looked like Joy had said something to Mary in the mind-link, but it was over so soon that she couldn’t be sure.
• Mary shrugged, “Fine then, I guess it really won’t hurt.”
• “Yippee,” Joy clapped her hands and turned to Alicia, “don’t worry, I will give you the best birthday you will ever forget,” she said and left the kitchen. Mary huffed and followed her, leaving Alicia alone once more. She was lost in thought, and despite not understanding what was happening, she actually found herself looking forward to the party.
• Perhaps Joy wasn’t so bad after all, and she was ready to forgive her for the mistreatment of the past year.
• A smile lit up on her face, and she couldn’t wait to see what Joy would plan for her.