Eleonora

We walked out of the car, and I had an odd feeling in my stomach. I was nervous for meeting this weird family.

I followed him to the porch where he rang the doorbell almost in sync a small lady with white hair opened the big doors

"Mr. Maxwell! Welcome" she said happily and embracing him in a tight hug

"Angela, how are you?"he questioned, I looked at the sweet moment between the two, not long after Martha appeared coming from the huge wood stairs, I was behind him, I couldn't see much of the interior of the house but the first thing I was depared with while looking around was a big ass portrait with an old scary man.

It gave me chills just looking at it, I advert my eyes from it shook myself rapidly trying to ignore my chicken skin condition.

Blaze and Angela finally departed, I noticed how much their height difference was while Blaze was clearly uncomfortably bending down to hug Angela. I think it's the first time I see him demonstrate physical affection towards a human person.

"Oh you're here!" his mom cheered happily opening her arms evolving his son. Angela kindly guided me and closed the door behind.

"That's my wife, Eleonora. Eleonora this is Angela" Blaze introduce us. I sweetly smiled at her but she was quicker to hug me and almost break my ribs.

"It's my pleasure to meet someone who can put up with that boy. You are strong woman for sure" Angela whispered to me making me giggle

"Hello dear how are you?" Martha interrupted us, making Angela let go of me. "Last time I saw you, you where dressed in white" she said while hugging me ...Don't make me remember that tragic day.

"Come meet the rest of the family" she said holding my hand and pulling me through the big house.

The house had an old style, all in dark wood and old scary portraits, I regret ever saying that ranch in Alaska was scary, good thing Blaze made those constructions for me living one week in something like this house is a hell no for me.

She guided me to what seemed like a living room, with a nice fireplace and some very expensive couches from like the Victorian Era.

A good-looking man was sitting on of the couches reading a journal when he looks up I suddenly recognized him from Blaze's portfolio. Damien, the older brother very good-looking but nothing like Blaze.

He had brown eyes, and some resemblance of Blaze but somehow they were nothing alike. Blaze was much more handsome by far.

"Oh wow who is this beautiful woman?" he said with his eyes going up and down on my body, making me fell very uncomfortable. Martha turned to him with her pleasant smile like always and introduced me

"Honey this is your brother's wife" she said, he stepped up grabbing my hand making me uncomfortable, his eyes locked in my mine and an amusing smug appeared on his face.

"It's a shame we haven't met before you said 'I do' . Could change your mind and some misery"he said  adverting his eyes to Blaze who was now behind me

"Go easy Damien that's my wife" Blaze spoke behind my back, I just saw the man in front of me laugh and give an evil smile as if he was enjoying this

"As if that would stop me... I'm sure I can do it twice" He smiled, what the hell were they talking about. Martha made a sig spearing his hand from mine and from the big door a pretty blonde girl appeared

"Sarah... You're here, meet Eleonora" Martha introduced us, she walked near to Damien where he grabbed her fiercely by the hip, he was behaving like he had never seen a woman in his life, his head tilted while he aggressively smell her neck. What the hell is going on?

"Sarah" she smiled raised her hand for me to kiss her... I laughed in my mind thinking what the hell was going on in here

I grabbed her hand and shook it giving her a handshake it was visible in her face, her disgust for my attitude and to think they are doctors ...

Marta guided me through the door showing me the surroundings making me slowly be more afraid of that haunting old house. It was also full of pictures of weird figures I only found one, a small picture with three people there two boys and a small girl, I tilted my head wondering who they where but Martha grabbed my arm happily pushing me to the dinning room

Where man as already sat at a big wooden table with a beautiful set table. with a journal covering his face. I could only see the few hairs he still had on his head and smoke coming out, indicating he was smoking. "Honey, they are here"

The sound of Martha's voice made the man lower the journal slightly, showing his glasses and the his eyes he scanned the place looking at me from top to bottom and to the the other couple and finally his eyes landed on Blaze. "Look at that he still knows where his parents live"

Martha frowned rapidly trying to change the subject "This is your daughter in law Eleonora " I steeped up smiling and slowly bowing my head cordially earning an careless an disrespectful eye turn from Blaze's Dad, Thomas Keller.

"We should eat, please seat" Martha said not taking her smile out of her face, I was starting to understood that smile was gradually getting faker, she seemed the only one who was truly happy to see us. We sat in the specific chairs she told us too, Blaze sat next to me, his father on top of table and in front of us the medicine couple.

"Angela bring the food "Martha shouted while sitting down at the other top of the table

Angela got in the dinning room with a cart of food followed by other maids walking behind her, so straight and with their hands behind their backs like they were in military. This people were rich rich, like an overwhelmingly weird kind of rich.

The maids placed the plates down in synchrony showing a bunch of food, meatloaf, pork chops, stew, mashed potato's, salad, rice,  beans, vegetables and also baked fish. They filled our three cups with red wine, white wine and water. The maids made a bow in curtesy and left the room.

Did I marry royalty ?

I was about to taste the hot bun of bred placed in front of me when a hand touches my leg making me squiver. I looked down watching his veiny hand on top of my dress an slightly taking it away as a warning to something then I head his mom....

"Let's thank God for this food" she said clenching her hands together and resting her head on them while closing her eyes, I frowned looking around and the doctor couple was also in position to pray and so was Thomas I looked at Blaze with a dumbfounded face.

He looked at me and simply took his index finger to my mouth signaling me to not speak, his eyes were open and he stood straight in his seat and I did the same. This was a new world to me, to say I was shocked was little, it was weird thinking this was Blaze's family. My family was never religious, my mom was Christian but not such a fierce Christian she passed me the knowledge of God but never implied me to get in Christianity, both my parents were pretty chill about it, they decided that I should chose my religion, I ended up by choosing none.

"Sarah, this is your day to preach" Martha said, my eyes advert to the blonde girl who had her eyes closed

"Father" She started "We have gathered to share a meal in Your honor. Thank You for putting us together as family and Thank You for this food. Bless it to our bodies, Lord."

I suddendly feel like I am at a Christian Texas Family and I am not sure why

"We Thank You, for gathering Blaze and Eleonora here with us today making us a bigger family . Although the adversities and controversies we thank You for being together. Help us finding the light and be kind to each other . Guide our mealtime conversations and steer our hearts to Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus' Name"

"Amen" they say lastly all in union. Quickly they opened their eyes and were already taking the food of the plates I saw my chance and finally grabbed the hot bun. It smelled amazingly, I divided it in two watching the consistency of the bread while spearing it in two. I don't know who baked this but this person deserves everything good in life.

As I drove the bun to my mouth Damien stopped me "So... I am curious, how did you get my brother? " My eyebrow raised up , what does he mean by that?  How did I get his brother "He is not an easy person" True "And very very picky in women" he commented with a laugh "Right bro?"

I looked at Blaze, his eyes were piercing through his brothers' soul . I didn't like Damien at all, he looked like he was always challenging Blaze. Well, ok I was always challenging him to but this was a whole different level although Blaze didn't payed his brother much attention at least he didn't respond with the amount of stupidity of his brother.

" What do you do for living sweet cakes? " His brother questioned

" I work in marketing and publishing" I simply said earning a laugh from him

"Wow... sort of like you brother. That's sweet. Keeping it in the fam" Was this guy serious? Was he using irony or is he too dumb? His whole family is on the medicine branch "Do you have a degree?"

"Master degree...why?" I questioned not understanding this questionnaire

"With Honors?"

"No"

"I have seen better. It's not bad tho" He said laying his back on the chair, what did that mean was he ridicularize my degree? Just because he's a doctor, wow I have never seen such dumb people

"What does that mean?" I questioned now revolted I sensed Blaze's leg hit mine warning me to stop.

"It means you did a good job but there are people who do much more and work their asses off for real and hardworking jobs" he said with a smile

"Like what? Being a doctor?" I said raising my eyebrow

Damien grew a smirk "Oh she speaks. You got yourself a hard one little bro"

"Stop" Blaze simply said while looking at him. Damien raised his hands in defeat but in a careless way, he was way too amused with this whole situation

"Sorry. But I would like to give your wife some lessons on real and meaningful work" he smiled. I rolled my eyes annoyed at this man.

"I'm warning you Damien"Blaze said

"You came all this way to mom and dad's house to threat me? Shame on you" Damien smirked

"I'm serious Damien

It's not a stupid man like him who will stop me from eat this magnificent bun so once again I took the bread to my mouth and as I was about to taste the fluffy bun a harsh bang on the wooden table startled me making the bun fall of my hand to the plate.

"ENOUGH"

"Thomas please" Martha said followed by a loud sigh. Thomas was at my right sat on the top of the table he pointed at Blaze while speaking in disgust

"No Martha I'm done of this ungrateful brat"he spat.  I think it's time for me to go home...

"You enter my house, step on my floor, sit on my chair, eat my food, and dare to threat my son after everything you did to your goddamn family" Thomas said banging on the table one more time startling everyone but Blaze. I took a chance to look at his features and now more than ever he looked- ... emotionless. He was looking to food but not really looking he seemed like he wasn't even there, his body was there but he looked soulless. No expression, no emotion, no movements, nothing, no reaction.

"Thomas please, I invited them" Martha said trying to calm down her husband

"Shut up Martha!" He pointed at her "You are so blind for your son can't you see what a total misery this boy is? He is nothing but a deception to this family! And know he comes here like if it was nothing and he walks into my house brings his wife to sit and eat my food! Your goddam wrong boy!" Thomas said aggressively banging the table and standing up

"Honey, I invited him don't be mad at him. I did-"

"And don't you think he knows his place?" He asked followed by a sarcastic laugh "What are you doing Blaze? Are you testing me? Is that what you are doing ?" He said moving now to Damien, who was in front of me, he grabbed his shoulders "You will never be like your brother. Never disappointed made sure to make his family happy in all of his choices" he said while another hand in Sarah's shoulders. Hmn that felt personal. Ouch. I hate my stubborn self for wanting to make his mother smile.

"You will always be a fucking dissapointment! Get out of my house you're not welcome here!" He shouted while walking away , Damien followed his father like a puppy leaving four in the room.

I looked at Blaze waiting for him to say what he wanted to do, he was paralyzed looking at the food, his mother snooping making Sarah stand up and calm Martha down. "I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry" she cried while trying to reach his arm which he deviated from, not wanting his mother contact.

"We are going" he said taking the napkins of his lap and placing it on the table.  His mother grabbed his arms and cried into it

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Blaze. Forgive me son. "

"Let me go" he said coldly

"When will I see you again? In 3 years? I am your mother I need to know how are, if you are well, if you are happy or unhappy"

"You waited 3 years once I'm sure you can do it twice" He said taking her hand out of his arm

"I love you Blaze" she shouted but he was already gone "I love you" she whispered between cries

I took a deep breath looking at all that mess. Damn, and I thought my family had drama, this is something else. I grabbed the bun rolling it in my napkin and walked to Martha "I'm sorry for everything" I said with a sad smile on

"Thank you for bringing him" she smiled tears falling from her red eyes. That phrase left an ache in my heart, if I hadn't been stubborn none of this would happen. I am so stupid this is all on me

I walked to the hall where I met him saying his goodbyes to Angela. She was hugging him with all the strength she had. I found myself smiling unconsciously at that scene.

"Miss Maxwell Here is your coat"one of the maids scared me.

"Thanks"I smiled I got my bag and placed the bun inside.

"Hey Eleonora?" A hand touched my shoulder, I looked at the owner of the voice surprised

"I know this i n't the best conditions but I would love you to go to my wedding" Sarah said with an annoying smile. Is this girl seriously asking me to go to her wedding

"Uhm I'm not really sure about but I'll see"

"Thanks I will send you the invitation" she commented with a bigger smile

"You're ready?" Blaze looked at me making me nod. I said my goodbyes and we left to the car

Once inside, I watched him lean his head against the car seat and taking a deep breath. This gave me a whole new perspective about him, his life must have been hard, he behaves like an emotionless and cold machine due to his past. I know little maybe less than little, but his father reaction gave me a taste of his reality. I was curious on knowing more, where did come from so much hate from his dad, he wasn't even treating him like a son anymore, what did Blaze do to his family for this rivalry. He completly extinguish the name Keller, the farm passed to his name, his brother hates his guts, he is not in medicine and his dad he so revolted by his actions.

It's a shame he didn't made a portfolio about him. About Blaze Maxwell...or Keller. I'm still confused.

I watched his eyes close while breathing heavily so I took my chance to take the bun out of my bag and eat it.

Hmn. Ok this was as good as it looked like.

"What are you doing?" He asked startling me

"Eating"

"did you brought a bun from he table?" He asked making me nod, his face was weird and I immediately knew he was going to say I was a child but instead he gave a sigh that sounded like a laugh. I frowned my eyebrows together questioning his behaviour.

"Do you like buns that much?"

"It looked good and I really wanted to taste it plus it was lunch"

He nodded in understandment "Yeah, we ended up by eating nothing" I nodded while munching on the bun "Do you like McDonald's?"

"Yeah?"I answered sounding more like a question, was the man I knew as neat tie and suit freak asking me if I liked McDonald's this was a day totally out of the normal

"Ok let's go then"he said strateing the engine "I know one on our way home"

"Wait- You like McDonald's?"

"Yeah"he simply answered

"You?" I pointed at him "A guy who eats nothing but what his maid does, or when he goes to know places and restaurants. A guy who doesn't drink cheap red wine and knows the difference between industrialized strawberry's and biological strawberry's who Dorothy spends decades trying to find the right ones. You want to go to McDonald's?"

"Doesn't everyone likes McDonald's?"

"I don't think you're father does" I answered making him smile

"Yeah that's probably true "

I consider is funny behavior a post traumatic reaction, his father just scolded him for being one of the biggest entrepreneur of this country, I bet his life wasn't easy . Maybe I should give him a credit, treat him nicely.