"Yes. I had something flown in but I needed to make a few adjustments."
"I’m sure you’ll look stunning in it."
"Thank you. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to keep you."
"What? Oh, of course. Please tell your father I said hello." She didn’t mention Tom, and Lucy didn’t register any offense.
"Of course." Lucy didn’t say one word about Gerald.
~~~
Annabelle opened the door as soon as she heard Jim outside. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Can I come in first?"
Annabelle closed the door and pointed to the living room. Jim joined her as soon as his coat was off. "When were you going to tell me that you were bringing Lucy?"
"She accepted two days ago. You’ve been with Stephen or at appointments. I didn’t want to bother you, but if an extra guest is a problem, I’m sorry for the inconvenience."
"Didn’t you invite her four weeks ago?"
"I did, and she said no. Then Dad suggested I ask her again last week, and she accepted. Look, I’m as surprised as you are."
"So you don’t know why she changed her mind?"
"Can we pretend that it’s because I’m so charming?"
Annabelle looked at her brother. He was thin and tall too—one of the few men not bowed in Lucy’s presence. But between the glasses and unusually high forehead which gave the unfortunate impression of a receding hairline, he looked about ten years older than he really was. He was a smart, kind, decent man, too good but not good enough.
"Charm’s overrated."
Jim sighed. "I’m sorry. I have no idea why she accepted, but I’m glad she did. Sue me."
"Jimmy, just...be careful."
"Around Lucy?"
"No. Around Dad."
~~~
Two days later, Stephen and Annabelle were walking in the Public Gardens again. Stephen was unusually quiet, giving one- or two-word answers and otherwise remaining silent. Annabelle drew him to a bench by the pond to sit down. "What’s wrong?"
"This is such a mess."
"What is?"
"The party."
"If you didn’t want a party, I wish you would have said something a few weeks ago—"
"I’m happy to tell the world we’re getting married. I just wish certain people didn’t have to be there when we do."
Annabelle squeezed his hand. "Stephen, your father has to come."
Stephen snorted. "I’m holding out hope that he might have an attack of gout that day."
She suppressed a laugh but not a smile. "And would that make you feel better?"
"No."
"You can handle my father."
"Not if he makes any more guest list changes. He called me this morning to ask if I—excuse me, ‘we’—would mind if John and Tom came with Lucy."
"What?!?"
"Can we seat Dad at the same table as the Bartolomes?"
"I don’t think Lucy deserves that." She thought for a moment. "Why wouldn’t my father ask me?"
"Because he was afraid you’d say no?"
"Very funny."
"Maybe he thought you had enough to do?"
Annabelle thought of Jim and shook her head. "Maybe he didn’t want me to ask why."
~~~
The party was two days later.
Stephen and his father Michael arrived fifteen minutes after the first guest. Stephen’s smile lit up the room.
Annabelle had never been so happy. "You approve of the dress?"
"I approve of my future wife."
"As do I," Michael said and kissed her on the cheek. Annabelle saw Stephen shudder. "Welcome to the family, my dear."
Annabelle gave him her brightest smile. "Thank you, Mister Abbot. I can’t wait."
Gerald was at Annabelle’s side a moment later. "Michael!" he said. "So good to see you again."
Annabelle looked at Stephen, who raised his eyebrow as Gerald walked away with Michael. Sometimes her father could be helpful.
Ten minutes later, Lucy, Tom and John Bartolome walked in. So similar, yet so different: white blonde John, ever so slightly stooped with age, but still one of the tallest men in the room; Tom, very tall and almost as muscular as Stephen, with light golden hair; and Lucy, creamy, blonde and slender perfection.
"Congratulations, Stephen!" Tom boomed before anyone could say anything. Tom stuck his hand in Stephen’s chest, and Stephen shook it as if it were something he didn’t want to touch for too long. Tom turned to Annabelle and smiled. "Stephen, you always were a lucky son of a—"
John cut him off before he could finish. "What my son means to say is congratulations."
Annabelle’s heart sank when she saw Jim a second later. "Hello, Lucy."
Lucy nodded. "Hello, Jim."
Gerald returned. "John, how good to see you. Why don’t you join Michael and me and let these young people speak freely?" As he and John walked away, Annabelle saw him ever-so-slightly smile and nod at Jim. Jim glowed. Annabelle felt the floor pull her feet deeper into it as Jim led Lucy away.
And then there was Alex. "Tom! I had no idea you were going to be here."
Tom shrugged. "Dad likes to make sure I’ve got a babysitter, and Lucy wasn’t available."
Alex laughed, then turned to Annabelle and Stephen. "You don’t mind if I take Tom away for a moment, do you?" Before either could answer, Alex and Tom walked away.
Annabelle shook her head. "I guess you’ve outlived your usefulness."
"Anna, please. He knows I can’t stand Tom."
She looked at Alex laughing with Tom, Gerald huddled with John and Michael and Jim speaking at a rapid clip to an unresponsive Lucy. "That must be it."
An hour later the champagne was passed out. Gerald stood up. "Thank you all so much for coming. In case you haven’t heard, we’re going to have a wedding to celebrate soon. Congratulations to my Annabelle and the lucky man she’s chosen. Stephen, welcome to the family."
People murmured their cheers, then sipped the champagne. Gerald waited a moment. "I hope my daughter forgives me for this, but I wanted to make one more announcement. My son has just told me that by next year he and Lucy will also be married. Please join me in congratulating them as well."
There were surprised murmurings. Annabelle saw her father raise his glass again to Jim, who beamed and squeezed Lucy’s hand. Lucy was pale as a sheet, the opposite of a blushing bride-to-be.
Annabelle saw Lucy turn her eyes for just a moment before she turned back to Jim and forced a smile. Annabelle looked in the direction Lucy’s eyes had pointed to and landed on Alex. Now she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Alex lifted his chin slightly then let it fall, as if he were nodding. He looked at Gerald with an expression that could only be described as triumphant. Next to him, Tom put his finger on his lips as if he were trying to restrain a laugh. Alex elbowed Tom, but smiled as he did so.
Annabelle felt Stephen put his hand on her shoulders. "Darling, are you alright?"
She looked again at her brother. She hadn’t seen him so happy since they were children.
"I need some air," she whispered.
Stephen walked her out to the patio. Annabelle felt the cold but didn’t care. "I’m sorry your father made that announcement tonight. It wasn’t fair—"
"I want to talk to him now."
"Your father?"
"No. Alex."
Stephen pulled his chin back. "What did he do?"
"Please, Stephen. Just send him out here so I can talk to him."
Stephen went inside. Two minutes later, Alex came out holding Annabelle’s stole. "Stephen thought you’d need this."
Annabelle put it on. "Stephen’s considerate. But you’re thoughtful too, aren’t you?"
Alex put his hands in his pockets. "What does that mean?"
"Some people are good to keep around, aren’t they? Some people are a good date at a party, and some people can get you the invitation in the first place. Some people have money for a loan." Alex pursed his mouth. "Bu
t the most useful people of all are the ones with information."
"Intriguing theory, but I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you."
"I know you don’t believe this, but Stephen is my best friend and I don’t keep him around for the invitations."
"Obviously, since you didn’t throw him over after his father couldn’t give you the loan." She clenched the stole to her. "Do you know what that would have cost Stephen? To owe his father because he did you a favor? That’s how you treat your best friend?"
He clenched his jaw. "I would have paid him back with generous interest. Stephen wouldn’t have owed his father anything."
"Are those the terms you promised my father?" She waited a moment, but Alex was silent. "Or did you give him the one thing he’s wanted for years? I underestimated you. I had no idea that your many talents included matchmaking. Or should we just call it pimping?"
Alex threw up his hands and looked away. "Pretend your father made me an offer: secure Lucy for Jim in exchange for the capital to make the investment of a lifetime. That’s a generous offer, but how could I possibly influence Lucy to go along with that?" He looked back at her and shrugged. "I think you’re not giving your brother enough credit."
"I saw Lucy just now—I saw her a few days ago. How could you influence her? I have no idea, but whatever it is Tom thinks it’s hilarious. Is Jim going to laugh too?"
"I’m going to get Stephen now. You’re obviously upset." He turned to walk away.
"My father isn’t stupid. You don’t get the money until they’re married, do you?" Alex stopped. "Jim can change his mind between now and then."
Alex turned around. "Pretend there is something. How would you find out what it is?"
"I could start by asking Lucy and if she didn’t tell me I could ask Tom."
Alex laughed. "You’d talk to Tom?"
She took a step closer. "To keep Jim from being made a fool of? Yes."
"Your brother is happy. Why do you want to take that away?"
"Don’t you dare. Jim just walked into a fantasy, and part of it is that my father is finally going to be satisfied. Fantasies fall apart."
"You wouldn’t be able to prove anything. Imagine what Jim would say if you threw around baseless accusations."
"Then you do it. Go in there and tell Lucy you’re releasing her. Tell my father you can’t do this to his son. Do it, and I’ll give you whatever my father promised you."
Alex seemed to stop breathing. Annabelle didn’t move. Then he shook his head. "It wouldn’t be enough," she heard him say as he walked away.
Stephen came out. "Anna, what is going on?"
If only he would believe her. But why should he? And why would Jim?
He took her hand. "Hey. Everything’s going to be alright. Remember?"
No one would believe her. "Of course." She closed her eyes and squeezed his hand. "Let’s go congratulate my brother."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Nam-Krane has been writing in one way or another since she was eight years old (and telling stories well before that). As an adult she brought many of her characters together to begin the New Pioneers series. The first book of the series The Smartest Girl in the Room and The Family You Choose were published in 2013.
In 2012 she wrote the History section of her sister Suzanne Nam’s Moon Thailand (Moon Handbooks).
Please join her mail list to find out first about new releases and connect with Deborah Nam-Krane on any of the following sites:
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A book reviewer for the last decade, she is grateful for all of the reader reviews she has received so far. After sales, they are the best promotion a new author can get. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on the retail site you purchased from, Goodreads, your blog or wherever you share your opinions.
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An Engagement: A New Pioneers Short Story Page 2