Contract to Love

by Sauder-Wallen, Annie

  Then Lawrence pulled Elizabeth in his strong arms. Now her world was complete.

  “I love you.” Elizabeth said dreamily as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 9

  Lawrence and Elizabeth spent the next week wrapped in each other’s arms. They held on to each other as they walked barefoot down the beach, at the pool, or sunbathing together. Then they always ended up in bed together. One day they remembered back to their date when she wore the red dress. Lawrence had said he had a hard time sleeping after his cold showed that night. They finished what they had begun that night. However, he never told her he loved her. Yes, he desired her, but had not said he loved her. But Elizabeth was content to wait.

  On Sunday, the last day of their honeymoon, they decided to go to Church, as they had every Sunday back home.

  The sermon was about love. Love one another. Elizabeth glanced over at Lawrence. He sat there staring straight ahead, showing no emotion.

  Elizabeth just grabbed his hand and squeezed. Love will come in time, she told herself.

  After Mass, they ate a quick lunch, and packed their belongings, then boarded a small plane.

  They sat side by side in silence. She had felt Lawrence tense the moment he stepped on the plane. What happened? She could feel her own stomach churning. When they landed, they would go straight to the big house to meet his family. She met his cousin Thomas, but had not met anyone else. Would they like her?

  Chapter 10

  As they drove the car through the huge iron gated with the letter K on them, Elizabeth’s eye’s widened and she froze. They drove around the curved driveway lined with tall oak trees. Then she saw it. The house! It looked like a huge cathedral. Lawrence took her hand and led her to the door. The entryway led to many other rooms and boasted a long, circular stairway. Lawrence greeted the maid who pointed to the right. Then they walked into a large ballroom with two large, hanging chandeliers, and a multitude of faces ranging in ages from very young to very old.

  “This is all your family?” Elizabeth whispered surprised.

  “Yes.” Lawrence answered simply. He proceeded to introduce her to all, starting with his Nonno, grandfather. Her mind was swimming with names and faces after all the introductions. They then moved into a very large dining room. Elizabeth picked at her food, and glanced around the table. At the head of the table sat Sabin Karapelli. He had such a strong presence, almost devious. Then she switched her attention to Rosetta, Lawrence’s grandmother. She seemed like a sweet lady. Elizabeth had met Lawrence’s parents, Mario and Teresa. Lawrence also had five sisters, three married with children. Elizabeth thought she had a large family, but it was nothing compared to Lawrence’s.

  Lawrence went off to talk business with the men. Elizabeth visited with Lawrence’s mother, and sister, Valerie. They made her feel so comfortable. She had wondered why she was so nervous.

  At 11:00 p.m. that night, Lawrence finally came and said it was time to go home. When Elizabeth asked if business was productive, he snapped and said he will own this business one day. Elizabeth again saw the cold determination in his eyes. She turned to the window and said not another word.

  Chapter 11

  Elizabeth awoke to the sound of running water. She turned over and glanced at the clock. It said 6:00 a.m. She saw a light coming from under the bathroom door. Lawrence was taking a shower. Elizabeth lay in bed looking at her surroundings. Last night when they came in, he took her to their bedroom where they mad love and went to sleep. The ceiling fan hummed on low above their bed. The carpet was lush with several different tones of browns. There was an overstuffed brown chair in the corner where he laid their clothes. His dresser which was on the other wall was polished oak. He had laid his two gold “K” cufflinks on top of it. Then four feet away from the dresser lay the door to the bathroom. Should she walk in and surprise him? What would he say? What would he do? Would he tell her it was not the time. Elizabeth sat up just as Lawrence walked out of the bathroom dressed only in his dark pants. His hair combed neatly in place. His strong arms and broad chest flexed as he moved to put on his clean white shirt. Elizabeth would never stop yearning for those strong arms to hold and caress her.

  “Get dressed, I want you to sign some papers on our marriage, then I will take you to start cleaning out the apartment above the store.” He said in a cool business voice.

  Elizabeth frowned. He seemed to have changed from the easy going man in the Virgin Islands to a hard-nosed businessman of now.

  Elizabeth dressed quickly, and before she knew it, they were on their way. The morning was a whirlwind of activity. Beginning with breakfast with his family, then business papers were drawn up. Most of the family seemed to accept her, but his grandfather, Sabin, was a different story. He seemed to glare at her, barely tolerating her presence.

  Lawrence handed her several papers needing her signature. She started reading, when he mumbled it had to do with taking over Nonno’s business. Elizabeth didn’t know what they needed her signature for, but she was Lawrence's wife. She quickly signed and handed them back to him. He added his own signature. Elizabeth glanced at Lawrence. He should be happy. He was getting the business. His face was as dark as a storm cloud. So why did he look as unapproachable as a bear?

  That afternoon, Lawrence drove her to the store.

  “You need to finish packing your things upstairs, so we can get the rest of it moved to my apartment.” Lawrence stated.

  “Then later we will clean out the furniture.”

  Elizabeth froze. Furniture? He must mean upstairs in her apartment. Hadn’t he?

  Chapter 12

  Over the next week, Elizabeth packed, and unpacked. She put a lot of her belongings in storage. Lawrence sold the store’s furniture. Elizabeth was irate and proceeded to tell Lawrence about it. She told him, she wanted to continue to work. He snapped and said that she was his wife. She was not going to work anymore. The coldness of the words and the enraged look in his eyes, cautioned Elizabeth not to say anymore. She wondered what those papers really said that she had signed. Had she been naive again? She finally worked up the courage to ask Lawrence what was going on.

  On a dark and stormy Friday night, Elizabeth sat up and waited for Lawrence to return home. He finally came home around 11:00 p.m. Elizabeth opened her mouth to ask all the questions she wanted answers to, but closed her mouth when she saw the look on Lawrence's face. He looked troubled.

  “What’s wrong?” Elizabeth, said filling with concern for her husband.

  Lawrence turned and smiled at her. The first real smile since their honeymoon. A smile that melted her insides.

  “Nothing.” He answered. Elizabeth, not convinced, touched his arm. He turned to her. Then he bent to kiss her gently. He ran his hands up her arms and slid down the red spaghetti straps back down exposing her creamy skin to the waist. His hands came and covered her breasts. Her nipples hardened immediately. Elizabeth shuddered. Her clumsy hands unbuttoned his shirt and cast it aside. The raindrops pelted on the window relentlessly, adding a rhythm to their lovemaking. Lawrence filled her so completely with himself. He turned and pulled her in his arms. Elizabeth felt safe in his strong arms. She drifted off into a deep sleep, while the thunderstorm raged outside.

  Chapter 13

  During the next few weeks, Elizabeth cleaned and situated Lawrence's apartment. In the four weeks following the delightful and heart-endearing lovemaking, Lawrence seemed very distant. He came home after she was asleep and left before she woke up in the mornings.

  But this evening, Lawrence finally came in early this evening. Elizabeth confronted him immediately with what has been on her mind. Elizabeth wanted to know if she could run the furniture store for them. Elizabeth pointed out that she didn’t see any harm keeping the furniture store while he worked all day with his family. He snapped at her and said she signed her rights over to him.

  “What do you mean I signed my rights over to you?” Elizabeth astounded.

  “Just what I said
.” Lawrence said calming taking off his cuff links and tie.

  “Do you remember signing those papers after we married?” When she nodded, he continued, “You signed everything over to me.”

  “Wait a minute,” Elizabeth yelled. “You said that was to help your business!”

  “It did. It got rid of your business.” Lawrence finished undressing and went to take a shower.

  Elizabeth sank to the bed. Why had he wanted to get rid of her business? Then it hit her. It must be what Sabin wanted. Lawrence always did what Sabin wanted because he wanted to take over one day.

  Elizabeth sat thinking about the furniture store. The fire, meeting Lawrence, the break in, robbery, and the proposal. It all seemed to be planned to the very last detail. Was this whole marriage a ploy? It made sense, though it grieved Elizabeth to think that. After the marriage, Lawrence was so distant, and he never said he had loved her. Her heart begged it not to be true, but somehow she knew she was right. How could she find proof of this? Tomorrow she would find out.

  Chapter 14

  Elizabeth woke up nauseous again this morning. She was kind of glad Lawrence was gone this morning as he was every morning. She didn’t want him to know what she was suspecting about herself.

  When the nausea passed, she dressed and went to the Karapelli mansion. She knew Lawrence and the other men would be at the store like every Thursday. It would be easy to find what she needed.

  She was let in by the maid who showed her upstairs to Rosetta’s music room. She chatted easily with Rosetta. She enjoyed learning how she has lived with Sabin all these years, but it hurt because she knew her and Lawrence wouldn’t be happy like that so many years down the road.

  Elizabeth glanced at the large grandfather’s clock on the opposite wall. It was getting late. She had to find the proof today.

  Elizabeth thanked Rosetta for the time, and said she would show herself out. Rosetta smiled and bade her goodbye. Elizabeth walked out of the music room and looked around cautiously. No one was around, so she continued to the offices. Lawrence had showed her around most of the house after they married. He hadn’t showed her the offices, but she knew where they were.

  Her heart pounded in her ears, and her stomach churned. She crept into Sabin’s office. She found a huge filing cabinet. She tried the first drawer. It was locked. They all were. Would Sabin keep the key just lying around? Somehow she doubted it. She tried to pick the lock. Then she heard voices in the big meeting room. The men were back. She had to find a way to sneak out, but how could she leave without proof. Elizabeth hid under the desk. The voices came closer. Then the light came on. Elizabeth prayed she wouldn’t be caught. What would Lawrence say? She had no idea what Sabin would do if he caught her in here. The office was his sacred place. He would probably kill her if he was as ruthless as she thought. She could hear two feet walking around the room. Then coming right to the desk and yanking the chair out. She found herself looking into two dark, furious eyes.

  Chapter 15

  “What in the ?!!? Do you think you’re doing in here?” demanded Lawrence.

  Elizabeth crawled out from under the desk, but kept her head down cast.

  “I was, uh, um, looking for those papers I signed.” Elizabeth sorrowfully stated.

  “Why?” growled Lawrence.

  “I wanted to know if it was what Sabin ordered you to do, or if, if maybe you really love me?” Elizabeth silently prayed for him to take her in his strong arms and tell her he really loved her, and not for what Sabin said to do.

  Lawrence's silence said it all. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.

  “All right, I will tell you the truth.” Lawrence said quietly. “Your business interfered with ours. It had to be crushed. If you had a successful business, people would think the Karapellis had no control anymore. That would threaten our power and prestige. Sabin wouldn’t have it. So I was ordered to court you.”

  Each word delivered a crushing blow to Elizabeth’s heart. She had this already figured out, but Elizabeth so wanted to be wrong.

  Lawrence continued, “You did not give up the business and go home, so Sabin decided I would marry you. I had you sign your business over to me. It was done.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears, but she was determined not to cry.

  “So now you will take over from Sabin because of what you did to me.” Elizabeth choked out.

  Lawrence nodded. “Jack really doesn’t want the responsibility, so it’s been agreed I will take over soon.”

  “You don’t need me anymore.” It wasn’t a question. Elizabeth walked silently out of the office. Now the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She clutched her stomach as she ran out of the house. No one watched her leave except two- Rosetta and Teresa, who exchanged worried looks.

  Chapter 16

  “All agreed.” Sabin glanced around the table as all hands went up.

  “It is agreed Young Sabin is to take my place in the day-to-day running of the business.” Sabin watched Lawrence. He seemed distracted from business as he had the past five months since Elizabeth left. Did he love her?

  Lawrence continued the meeting absent-mindedly. After it was over, Sabin went to the bedroom to lie down. Rosetta followed him.

  “What is wrong, my husband?” Rosetta asked. “Is it giving the business to Lawrence?”

  “No, I am just tired, just tired.” sighed Sabin.

  “Then rest my husband, love will work everything out,” said Rosetta with a knowing look in her eye.

  Chapter 17

  Lawrence glances out of the window from his office. The weather was colder, and the leaves had turned a golden red, the color of Elizabeth’s hair. Elizabeth. A smile spread across his face, then turned to a frown. He had to stop thinking about her. She was distracting him. It was already set, Sabin had arranged a marriage between Donna Lortoli and him. But he didn’t want to marry Donna, he had already promised his heart to Elizabeth.

  No! He would marry Donna and put Elizabeth out of his mind.

  Just then a knock came at the door.

  “Elizabeth?” Lawrence asked hopefully.

  “No honey, it’s Mother.” Teresa said quietly. “If you miss her that much, try to find her.”

  “I can’t, I have to marry Donna.” Lawrence replied.

  “Do you love Donna? Trust your heart, son. Let it love who you want to love, not who someone tells you to.” Teresa pleaded.

  “Did you need something, Mother?” Lawrence asked closing the subject of Elizabeth.

  “Yes, your grandfather wants to see you.” She turned and walked away praying love would find a way.

  Chapter 18

  Elizabeth woke up with sunlight streaming in her bedroom. Her first thought was of Lawrence, of course, as it had been every morning since they met. She patted her rounded stomach. Yes, a baby would be here in April. She wasn’t showing that much. To the casual observer, she just looks like she has gained a little weight. The baby would remind her of the love she always felt for Lawrence. Elizabeth was glad to have a reminder of Lawrence left, but yet felt sorry for the child who would never know its father.

  Elizabeth got up out of bed and made her way to the kitchen of her friend Mary’s vacation home. After she ran out of the Karapelli’s home, she quickly packed her belongings and went to Mary’s house. She stayed with Mary about a week hoping Lawrence would come and profess his undying love for her. But he never did.

  She had seen the doctor who told her to get plenty of rest. Mary gave her a key to her vacation home. So, Elizabeth had been here ever since.

  After a breakfast of toast, fruit, and milk, Elizabeth changed into a blue-striped top and navy blue shorts. She made her way to the beach to read Guide to Pregnancy. She watched a family lay a blanket on the beach. They came every day. The first time she saw the man, he reminded her of Lawrence. Every time she saw dark eyes and hair, or strong arms, she thought of Lawrence. Look, there’s a tall, dark, man walking towards her. He look
s like Lawrence. A lot like Lawrence. Her heart contracted. It was Lawrence!

  “Wha--, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth choked up.

  Elizabeth nonchalantly slid her book under a towel.

  “I came to find you.” Lawrence said simply.

  “Find me?” Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears hoping but not believing.

  “Yes, Elizabeth. I love you. I have for a long time, but I was afraid of Nonno. In my Italian family, everyone obeys Nonno. No one even challenges him. So I couldn’t admit my love. Nonna tried to get Nonno to see my love for you. He arranged a marriage to an old family friend.” Lawrence paused for a moment and then continued.

  “I was going through with it because Nonno said, but I just could not stop thinking about you. I finally told Nonno that I loved you.” Lawrence took Elizabeth’s hand in his own hand and gently caressed it.

  “Nonno, said that he knew I loved you. He was just waiting for me to stand up to him and tell him what I truly wanted. He said that now he has full confidence that I can run the business.” Lawrence gently brushed the hair that fell across her eyes.

  “I want to run the business, but I love you. I want you, Elizabeth. I have looked everywhere for you. Then one day the doctor called and left a message for you. I called him back.”