An Arranged Marriage

by C. M. Bryden

  Later, feeling very apprehensive, she stood outside Jake’s front door and waited for an answer to her tentative knock. Her heart raced as she waited: taking deep breaths, she wondered what he would say when he saw her standing outside and, in a perverse kind of way it was a relief when the door remained firmly closed and it became obvious no one was at home. Neither were there any signs of life from the neighbouring apartments. Despondent, Jane returned home, even more determined than ever to return the following morning and confront Jake with his mistress, once and for all! After another restless night, Jane was up early the next morning, intending to arrive at his apartment before he would have to leave for his office. Just as she reached his door, and before she could even knock, the door opened, startling her. To her amazement, instead of seeing Jake, or the gorgeous blonde, a middle-aged woman stood in the doorway. Jane was just about to ask after Jake, and his whereabouts, when the woman volunteered the information that Mr Adams wasn’t at home; when questioned further, neither did she know where he’d gone or for how long, just that he’d had to go away on business and wasn’t expected back for some time. She was there merely to clean the apartment and, as far as she knew, Mr Adams had never had a young lady staying there! It was obvious the woman was fond of Jake and, after her conversation with her; Jane began to wonder just where it was Jake had gone? He seemed to have completely vanished, leaving her to wonder if he’d taken his ladylove with him.

  To her dismay, she spent another evening on her own, mulling over her thoughts, wishing she had someone to talk to. Again she’d been unable to get hold of her father for he too seemed to have gone to ground; as for Jessie, Jane began to suspect she might have found herself a new man and, if so, that was probably the reason why she’d been so distracted of late, no doubt engrossed with him!

  The next day at the office seemed to drag by. Jessie was as efficient as ever, even though she was a little distant in her manner; pre-occupied with her own thoughts. Try as she might, Jane had no success in finding out what it was on her friend’s mind either!

  Jessie put a phone call through to Jane that afternoon from Andrew. He wanted to know if she was all right, apologising for his absence but giving her no explanation as to where he’d been. At least his call gave her the opportunity to find out if he knew where Jake might be, without telling him what her problems were. His answers were just as evasive as Jessie’s had been, telling her he only knew Jake had gone to Italy on urgent business and quite possibly wouldn’t be back home for some time. He also told her Jake had phoned nearly every day and, from how her father spoke, he knew she was at home. It was apparent her father didn’t know Jake had another woman with him, or that their marriage was in trouble. As for Andrew, he’d listened to Jane, knowing from Jessie how moody and distracted she’d become since returning from America; Jessie even speculated it might be the extra weight her friend appeared to have gained whilst being away playing on her mind.

  It was then Jessie suddenly had a flash of womanly intuition that she immediately dismissed, saying nothing to Andrew of her suspicions that perhaps there was something else causing her friend’s moodiness?

  After Andrew had finished his call, Jessie knew it was about time she told Jane she’d fallen in love with him, but the office wasn’t the place for heart to heart talks, instead, she invited her to join her for a meal that evening. Her biggest worry was how Jane would feel when she realised her best friend was about to become her stepmother! Would she feel she was usurping the memory of her real mother? It was going to be an evening Jessie could honestly say she was not looking forward to and, from how Andrew had spoken, neither was he!

  Pregnancy suited Jane, even considering the occasional sickness and cramps. She stood in front of her full-length mirror and viewed her body from all angles. She could definitely see she’d put on weight, but she wasn’t too unhappy with that. She thought she looked more attractive and womanly, especially with the added fullness of her breasts and the roundness on her hips. Her breasts looked luscious, and she could imagine Jake holding them. Her nipples suddenly hardened at the thought and, not to her surprise, she suddenly felt sexy, wanting nothing more than to be making love with him. Even though her body wanted him, she still felt angry at his desertion, and then she remembered his touch on her body: lying on the bed she touched herself, imagining it was Jake and, with her eyes closed, she caressed herself, convinced in her mind, just for a few minutes, that it was Jake’s fingers and lips touching her, until she reached an orgasm that left her shuddering and in tears, such was the intensity of her longing for the man she’d married and fallen in love with.

  She wiped her eyes and continued dressing, knowing if Jake had walked into her flat at that moment, she would have leapt into his arms and begged him to give up his new ladylove. Was her yearning for his body to be her punishment for loving him as she did?

  Jane knew it would be good to go to Jessie’s for a meal. She’d always enjoyed her friend’s company and, during her lunch break, she’d bought herself a new outfit, one that didn’t cut her in half as well as a bottle of champagne for them to open when she told her friend the news of her expected baby.

  Meanwhile, Andrew had been warned not to arrive until later, as Jessie wanted to get the meal ready. She even removed her new engagement ring and placed it back into its box, deciding not to wear it until after they’d received Jane’s blessing. Being a perceptive man, Andrew understood how Jessie felt, not that it mattered to him whether Jane approved or not. As far as he was concerned, he intended marrying Jessie regardless of whether his daughter approved or not!

  Preparations for the meal were well under way by the time Jane arrived. A lasagne was already bubbling away in the oven, with a dish of salad waiting on the side. The table was laid for three, the one detail Jane failed to notice.

  She used the bathroom to freshen up and by the time she returned to the lounge Jessie had opened the wine and was just about to pour two glasses when Jane stopped her and asked for water instead. Jessie raised her eyes but made no comment as she went into her kitchenette to finish off the meal. It was unlike Jane to not want a drink of red wine and then the cogs in Jessie’s brain suddenly started to churn away, as Jane sat relaxing and sipping at her glass, her mind drifting back and forth from her errant husband to her expected baby, her reverie suddenly broken by the sound of a key being turned in the front door, and then the door opening and her father walking in, putting the key he’d used back into his pocket!

  Jessie heard the door and came rushing through, her face flushed; at the same time, Jane’s astonishment continued, as she witnessed the manner in which her father and Jessie greeted each other leaving her in no doubt as to their relationship!

  Her father had taken Jessie into his arms, in such a manner Jane realised it was far more than a friendly embrace between two friends as he kissed her soundly, before walking across to where she was sitting. Jane stood up and Andrew took her in his arms and kissed her and then, holding her at arm’s length, he appraised her, mentally agreeing with Jessie his daughter did look different but in a way he couldn’t quite fathom.

  ‘You look as lovely as ever.’ He said, smiling at her.

  Jane smiled in return, noticing properly his youthful glow. He seemed to be a different person from the one she’d last seen at the railway station only a few months ago. It was obvious her marriage to Jake had released him from the strain of seeing his business disintegrating before his eyes. He was fully rejuvenated, no longer the haggard and worn down man she remembered. At least, she thought, somewhat cynically, one good thing, if nothing else, had come about from her arranged marriage to Jake!

  ‘You look remarkably good yourself,’ she said, taking in his new and trendy haircut and the modern casual clothes, and then the penny finally dropped. Andrew and Jessie definitely were an item!

  Jane’s thoughts were compounded by the look that passed between them, even more so when he’d pulled Jessie into the crook of his arm.

&
nbsp; ‘It must be love!’ He said, looking down at Jessie and winking shyly at her, before looking across at Jane and blurting out, ‘Jessie and I are going to be married!’

  At this point Jane’s face was a picture of emotions. Amazement at her father’s announcement and stunned that she hadn’t guessed.

  ‘You’re what?’ Was all she managed to stammer?

  ‘We’re going to be married.’

  ‘I’m shocked,’ she said, but Jane could tell from how they were looking into each other’s eyes they didn’t care whether she was shocked or not. Jane stood in silence for a moment or two, letting her father’s words sink in.

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Of course I’m serious.’ Her father said. ‘Jessie and I are in love and we’re going to get married and we want you to be happy for us and wish us well.’

  ‘Of course I’m happy for you, why wouldn’t I be? It’s a surprise that’s all! I had no idea you were even seeing each other.’

  Jane held her arms out to them and held them both, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘I couldn’t be happier if I’d arranged it myself. How long has this been going on? I must have been asleep not to have noticed.’

  ‘You weren’t asleep, darling, you were merely in love yourself.’

  At this, Jane said nothing, except to ask when they’d first started their affair. When she knew it had been at her wedding, she knew Jake Adams had a lot to answer for. He’d not only gained a bride, but a father-in-law and a business, as well as a potential new stepmother-in-law. She only wished he’d been with her to enjoy this moment, but sadly that was not to be and, she’d yet to tell the happy couple her own news.

  By the time the lasagne was ready, Jessie had fetched her engagement ring and, with a gallant flourish, Andrew had taken it from its box and placed it on her finger, kissing it in a manner that promised much more later when they were on their own.

  Jane duly admired the ring and kissed Jessie; delighted her best friend was soon to be her stepmother, intending to tell them her news later, after they’d eaten.

  The talk at the table centred on where and when Jessie and her father would get married and, as she listened to them making their plans, Jane was glad her father had found someone at last to share his life with; she knew her mother would have approved of Jessie as she was a gentle and caring person, exactly the right sort of person she would have chosen herself for Andrew.

  Jane was adamant they should live in the house in the country, but this wasn’t what Jessie wanted. She’d already made it quite clear to Andrew when they’d discussed their future living arrangements that she preferred the city life, with its bright lights and cosmopolitan lifestyle, to that of a house in the country with its Aga cooker and Hunter wellies! Andrew said they would love to use the house for weekends and sometimes, perhaps when Jane and Jake had children he and Jessie would come and stay with them. It was this comment that caught Jane out. Andrew was seated on the old settee with Jessie next to him, his arm around her shoulder, content with each other. There was a lull in their conversation and it was then Jane told them her news that she was expecting a baby.

  They were, of course, delighted, as she thought they would be, until they saw the anguish on her face and, instead of jumping up to hold her and congratulate her they fell silent, waiting for an explanation.

  ‘What does Jake think?’ Jessie asked, silently hoping all was well with Jane and Jake’s marriage.

  Jane looked down, afraid to show her emotions, at the same time Andrew squeezed Jessie’s arm, aware for the first time of his daughter’s misery.

  ‘How does Jake feel about becoming a father?’ He asked her softly. ‘Is he pleased?’ At the same time, wondering why Jake hadn’t mentioned it the last time he’d spoken to him.

  ‘He doesn’t feel anything because he doesn’t know.’ Jane answered.

  Andrew looked at her, astounded at her tone of voice. ‘What do you mean he doesn’t know? Why haven’t you told him?’ And then suddenly he was angry, on Jake’s behalf. Angry Jane wasn’t including her husband in what should have been a happy event in their lives.

  ‘Because he has another woman and I don’t want him to know.’

  She said this in such a manner Andrew looked at her sharply. He could see she was upset from the tears that filled her eyes and the catch in her voice, but even the sight of them failed to make him sympathetic.

  ‘I don’t want him to stay married to me just because I’m pregnant. It would be disastrous to have to live with a man who would rather be with another woman.’

  Jane wiped her eyes.

  ‘Jake must be told.’ Andrew said, looking at her closely. ‘He is, of course, the father? There isn’t anyone else in your life is there?’

  ‘Of course he’s the father.’ Jane replied, indignantly.

  ‘Then he should be told, whether he has another woman or not.’

  Jane cried some more. She hadn’t expected her father to be so adamant; she’d fully expected him to be on her side, instead, he’d sided with Jake and, as she sat wiping her eyes, she sat in silence, her heart breaking with her despair.

  It was Jessie who took pity on her, giving Andrew a glare that would have been comical in other circumstances.

  She moved from his side and sat on the arm of Jane’s chair and gently stroked her friend’s hair, her tender touch reaching out to Jane, soothing her. At that moment, Jane knew her father had chosen well, Jessie was going to be the perfect stepmother and, holding her friends hand, she tried hard to compose herself.

  ‘What am I to do, Jessie?’ She wailed. ‘I’m sorry I’ve spoilt your news. I only wanted to tell you about the baby.’ Gulping back her tears she continued. ‘Jake can’t possibly love me, or be interested in our baby, or he wouldn’t have found someone new so soon after we were married. She was with him the first day I met him, I should have known then he wasn’t the one for me. It was the night Dad and I went to the hotel for a meal with Leo.’

  Jane looked at her father. ‘You were in the cloakroom, getting my wrap when Jake walked in with his other woman. He glared at me, and at Leo. He must have thought Leo and I were an item.’

  Andrew looked at Jessie, surprised at the venom in Jane’s voice as she described that meeting, shocked at how forthright his daughter could be. He knew her to be feisty, but how she was reacting now was something more than that.

  ‘How do you know it’s the same woman?’

  ‘I saw him going into his apartment with her the day before I left for New York. They certainly looked more than just friends to me. He had his arm round her and was kissing her. I’m not blind, and neither am I stupid! I can tell when someone’s in love?’

  Andrew didn’t know what to say that would console her, or give her hope that perhaps she’d got it wrong. Perhaps Jake hadn’t been unfaithful at all? But with Jane’s own evidence of seeing him with another woman, Andrew could do no other than believe her. But, as far as he was concerned, Jake hadn’t given any indication anything was wrong with his and Jane’s marriage, on the contrary, Andrew would have said it was proving to be successful. If only he knew where Jake was, he’d go and see him and give him a piece of his mind. One thing for sure, when next he spoke to him he would make it his business to find out exactly what was going on and tell him in no uncertain terms what a louse he was to be treating his wife and the mother of his expected child in such a manner!

  Relieved at last her father and her best friend, and soon to be stepmother, knew of her expected baby, as well as the state of her marriage, Jane dried her eyes and looked across at her father. She could see his mind working overtime on her problem. She then told him under no circumstances was he to mention to Jake anything she’d told him. He wasn’t to tell Jake about the baby, or that she intended seeking a divorce, and certainly not that she’d seen him with another woman!

  Andrew wasn’t happy with Jane’s demands; as far as he was concerned, Jake had the right to know all the facts, and be given the c
hance of preventing his marriage from disintegrating even more than it already had. And neither did he want Jane to become yet another statistic: a single woman rearing a child without the father being involved in its day-to-day-care!

  By the time Jane left Jessie’s flat later that evening, the champagne she’d bought still languished in the fridge, at least, she thought, her father and Jessie would have more to discuss later, other than themselves.

  That night, Jane dreamt of Jake, once more in his role of a pirate, but this time he made no attempt to rescue her; as for making love to her, he was always just out of her reach, watching her from inside dark shadows. Even in her sleep she wept, until the image of him faded away and she was left clutching her pillow, wet with her tears. Images from her dream haunted her all the next day, leaving her to wonder if this was the fate she was going to face without Jake, to be alone and lonely! Not a life she’d envisaged when she’d said her vows on their wedding day, a day that now seemed a lifetime away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was Jake’s mobile phone that had woken him. His first thought that it might be Jane was soon dashed as he recognised his mother’s voice. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, instinctively knowing there must be a problem for her to be calling him so early in the morning.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked her gently.

  ‘It’s Stefano, he’s had an accident. He’s in hospital.’

  ‘What sort of accident?’ Jake asked, afraid from the urgency in his mother’s voice of what he was about to hear.

  ‘He’s been in a car accident…’