Love Schemes
Page 15
After everyone’s wedding took place over the summer and fall, they had all agreed to meet at Faith’s fortress and celebrate All Hallow’s Eve together this year. “Faith and Zuric will be here shortly. They’re just getting dinner and the festivities organized for this evening. Wow, she’s getting round like an apple. That wedding night must have been something else!”
“My God, Ava. Have some decorum,” Seraphina said, patting her own, slightly round belly. “It was probably the second night that did it.” She giggled.
Ava laughed. She was wearing her maid costume for old time’s sake, the one with the longer skirt. “So, here it is. What our fathers said about us on that trip. We’re lucky—a guard overheard their whole conversation, but was sworn to secrecy. Only now that we’re all married did my father allow him to talk,” Ava said excitedly. “The comments are too funny!”
Doran lounged back, cuddling with Seraphina. They had gotten married in September at the site of their summer house that was being built. “Okay, I’ll bite. What did they say?”
“I wrote it all down,” Ava said, checking her notebook. She looked at Brody. “Your dad called you a ‘big-hearted dummy’ and told everyone how you needed help.”
“Ha ha,” Brody laughed. “It’s so true.”
Ava looked at Seraphina. “Your father thought you liked women, and referred to you as some sort of bug that eats their mates…the guard couldn’t remember the name of the bug, though.”
Seraphina blushed. “I wasn’t that bad,” she said faintly.
“Obviously,” Doran agreed. “I’m still alive.” He smiled. “Maybe it’s because I ‘pray.’”
Seraphina hit him over the head with a pillow.
“Okay, Doran…your dad said, ‘My bookworm son can’t dance to save his life—he’ll be an unmarried virgin and live forever,’ or something like that.” She looked him. “The guard said yours was the funniest one.”
Of course it was. Doran only sighed.
They all looked at her expectantly. “What?” she asked, eyes sparkling.
“You were part of this whole affair too. What did your father say about you?”
“Oh…apparently he said I’m indiscreet. Okay, that’s a lie. He called me a bawd, but he was in despair. He wanted me to find true love and happiness.”
“Which you did,” Brody said proudly. “I love your inner bawd, baby.” He tried to whisper, but everyone heard him.
“That’s disgusting,” Seraphina said. “I do NOT want to hear about your sex life.”
“Which reminds me…” Brody looked at Doran, “Don’t forget about that move I showed you, buddy. It’s a good one.”
Seraphina looked shocked, her face turning red. “What move are you talking about Brody?” she asked, dangerously.
Brody looked afraid.
Doran laughed out loud. “Brody, your conversational timing is impeccable. Don’t worry, Seraphina. It’s a dance move, not…another type of move. In the end, isn’t that why I won our little competition?”
Seraphina smiled. He had won, hands down. He had danced like an angel at their wedding. Doran was also taking care of the castle’s finances, not her. After all, he was great at it. Seraphina couldn’t see how she’d lost anything, to be honest. She smirked on the inside.
Brody frowned. “Why? What did you think I was talking about? I told you, I’m the best dancer ever.”
And he really was.
The End
Acknowledgements
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I would say it takes a village to put out a book. It is a literary child!
To be honest, writing is the easy part. Parting with your work to get some feedback…that’s the hard part.
My sister, Liz, was the first to read it, as per usual. I dropped it off at her place and she told me she would start it when I left. I was agonized as I drove home! What page was she on? Would she like it? Was it too silly?
The next day I waited anxiously for her to call. She didn’t! I had to call her. I finally did, at 6 a.m. (Kidding, it was a bit later.)
Me (casually): “So…what do you think so far?”
Liz: “So far? I finished it at three in the morning. I loved it! I couldn’t put it down.”
I now had the confidence to forge on!
Many other people have since read this silly little love story and made it so much better: Carolyn, Dominique, Jennifer, Kim, and Linda…thank you!
Lastly, to my family who must deal with me while I am writing and am unresponsive to my surroundings. Hampton, Nikos, Shanna, thanks for feeding me!
Love you all.
Love Schemes
Copyright © 2016 by Stacy Charasidis
First Edition – March 2015
ISBN
978-0-9950426-0-5 (Paperback)
978-0-9950426-1-2 (eBook)
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information browsing, storage, or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, or events either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by Cora Graphics
www.stacycharasidis.com
Also by Stacy Charasidis
Barrington County Novels
(in reading order)
HEX – The Haunting of Barrington County
MALICE – A Barrington County Novel
Silly Little Love Stories
Love Schemes
Portals