Deep in Marigold's dreams she saw a younger version of herself aged 10. The younger version of Marigold had medium length hair that cut off right around her shoulders and was matted. She wore a white oversized shirt that cut off around her knees and had stains and small holes throughout it. On her face was dirt and soot. She looked malnourished. Her arms and her legs began showing her bones and her cheeks were sunken. Under her crystal blue eyes were dark circles. She stood in her unfurnished living room looking at her father sitting on the floor. Her father wore navy blue dress pants and a white t-shirt that was untucked and dirty. On his face was a 3 o'clock shadow and underneath his eyes were dark circles. He reeked of body odor and cigarettes and his breath reeked of foul fish and garbage. In his hand he held a picture of himself and his wife from before Marigold was born. Tears rolled down his cheeks and Marigold said, "Daddy it's been two days and I'm hungry." He looked at her wi
The minutes slowly rolled by while Marigold sat on her bed thinking to herself, 'I was screaming again, screaming in my sleep because of my father… But why, why was I screaming for Beau? How could I want someone who doesn't even care about me or my feelings? He took me away from my home, he put me here and yet I find myself wanting him around… Why, why am I feeling this way? I don't want to feel this way about Beau and I don't want him to know I feel this way about him. I have to push him away… I can't lose sight of what he did to me." Half an hour passed and Carls entered the room, holding a silver tray with breakfast for Marigold on it, saying, "Good morning Miss Marigold." On the breakfast tray there were pancakes on a white plate, a small glass cup of syrup sitting next to the pancakes (on the plate), a napkin that had a fork and knife sitting on top of it, a tall glass of orange juice sitting next to the plate, and a white saucer that had 2 sausage links on it. She smelled the a
Beau and Carls looked at Marigold while she stood there, looking down at the floor. Beau's eyes widened and his heart began racing, beating hard against his chest. Beau felt the blood rush to his face, turning his face red and his stomach began to tingle. Carls glanced over at Beau, seeing him looking nervous, looked back at Marigold, and said, "You look beautiful, Miss Marigold. How do you think she looks, Master Beau?" She held her arm while glancing up seeing Beau staring at her. Beau looked into her crystal blue eyes, quickly looked away, and said, "She looks okay." She looked down and Carls said, "Just okay Master Beau? I think Miss Marigold looks lovely. It's a very pretty dress for a very beautiful woman. Don't you think, Master Beau." Beau put his hand on the back of his (Beau's) neck and rubbed it while saying, "Yeah it looks really okay on her. It's a very beautiful dress and I'm glad she likes it." She grabbed her dress, gripping it tightly, and a woman's voice said, "Ah th
Beau sighed and said to Marigold, "I-I think y-you l-look… Okay." Marigold looked down saying, "Thanks Beau." Marigold held her arm with one hand and gripped her dress with the other. Beau looked at her and sighed. "My boy, where are you," a man's voice called. Nathaniel walked into Marigold's room saying, "Ah, there you are. I've been looking all over for you, we have business to take care of." Nathaniel glanced over at Marigold, seeing her all dressed up, and said, "Oh aren't you a sight for sore eyes Marigold. My boy she's pretty isn't she?" Beau swallowed his breath and said, "S-She's o-okay, I-I mean s-she l-looks okay." Nathaniel said, "Looks okay? She's a gem! How do you not see it? She looks beautiful! My boy, what has gotten into you? How can you say she just looks okay? You…" Angela interrupted Nathaniel saying, "You know what, why don't we give Beau some privacy with his wife, huh? Me and Marigold made some pasta for you to try my love, so why don't we go to the kitchen and
Marigold looked at Beau as he put his arm out towards her. She chuckled, grabbed his arm, and they left the room. He escorted her to the front door while she thought, 'He's so strong… I never noticed that about him before and he's quite the gentleman. I never noticed how gentle he is.' She stood in front of the front door and he opened it, saying, "A lady should always be treated like a queen." She smiled at him, while she left the home, and he followed behind her, closing the door behind himself. She stood on the porch and he said, "Wait here, I'll pull the car around." He walked down from the porch, around the house, to his car, while she stood there watching him and thinking, 'He's really a sweetheart… More of a sweetheart than I thought he was.' VROOOM He pulled his car in front of the house, got out of the driver's seat, and opened the front passenger’s side door, saying, "Come Miss Marigold, our dinner awaits." She walked down from the porch, got inside the car, he closed her
Justly quickly walked over to the table where Marigold and Beau sat holding a glass pitcher of water and to rectangular glasses in her hands. She set the glasses before them, filling each one up with water, while saying, "We're almost done cooking your meals." Beau said, "Honestly Justly take your time, we can wait for you." Justly said, "Ah Beau you're too kind. I just want to make sure everything comes out in a timely fashion. Someone of your stature shouldn't have to wait long periods of time for food." Beau said, "It's really okay. You guys work so hard, you work hard Justly. We can wait." Justly said, "You're too sweet Beau." She looked at Marigold and said, "So how long have you two been together?" Marigold gripped her dress and she (Marigold) said, "For a little over a month." Justly said, "That long and Beau hasn't driven you crazy yet? I'm shocked." Marigold chuckled and Beau said, "I don't drive people crazy." Justly said, "Yes you do, you drive me crazy everytime you come i
Marigold and Beau left the restaurant, went over to Beau's car, got inside, buckled their seatbelts, and Beau drove off. Marigold looked over at Beau, watching him drive, and thinking 'Why is he so sweet to me? After everything he should be hating me right now but he's not. He's been gentle and sweet even after everything I've said and done. Why is he so nice to me? I can't read him at all…" Beau glanced over at her, seeing her quickly turn away, and he said, "Ah, I was wondering why it was becoming so hard for me to drive. Your beautiful eyes were looking at me and making me distracted." She scoffed, saying, "My eyes weren't looking at you but even if they were, how would you know? You're focused on the road." He smiled and said, "Because they are one of my weaknesses." She said, "You're a sweet talker I see." He laughed and said, "Me a sweet talker? Never." She said, "You're so much of a sweet talker I can feel my blood sugar go up. Keep talking and I'll need a doctor." He chuckled
The rest of the car ride was silent. Beau drove all the way back to his home, parked his car on the side of the house, looked over at Marigold, and said, "Hey, we're here." She continued sleeping and he smiled at her. He got out of the car, walked over to her side, opened the door, unbuckled her seatbelt, and carried her in his arms, closing the car door behind him. He carried her inside, all the way to her room, and tucked her into bed without waking her.He left her room into the hallway, closing the door behind him, and saw Carls standing there. Carls said, "Long night Master Beau." Beau smiled and said, "One of the best nights I've ever had. To see her smile and enjoy herself… I saw her in a way that I haven't been able to see her in for a while." Carls said, "I'm glad to see you two getting along and I'm glad Miss Marigold enjoyed herself." Beau said, "Carls I want to do something for her, something big." Carls asked, "What do you have in mind, Master Beau?" Beau answered, "Well