AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Geneva’s face stays locked in a permanent scowl. When I meet her gaze, I arch one eyebrow pointedly and she rolls her eyes in disgust.
“All these cakes are simply divine,” Mrs. Cole says after an hour’s worth of small talk and sampling. “You certainly have excellent taste, Kolya.”
I incline my head and offer her another piece of cake. “That’s a wonderful necklace you’re wearing, Bridget.”
“Why thank you. They’re not real pearls, unfortunately.”
“Well, we have to remedy that,” I tell her. “My jeweler has an eye for fine pieces. I’d love to send you a little gift.”
Her eyes go wide, and she’s not the only one. The entire table looks gobsmacked. “Oh, goodness no! I couldn’t let you—it’s far too generous.”
“Nonsense. Nothing is too good for my future mother-in-law,” I tell her with my most charming smile. Then I turn it on Mr. Cole. “Pearls do go quite nicely with a new Rolex. The two of you will look smashing.”
The old man hems and haws, but even as he does, he goes red with delight at the prospect. “It is quite refreshing to meet such a driven young man. So unlike all the other ruffians these two brought home.”
“I never brought anyone home,” Geneva snaps, sulking now that her plan has backfired. “But maybe I should have. Guess it was easier than I realized to impress the two of you. A few fancy gifts and you’re pissing yourself with pride at your future son-in-law.” Her words are pure rat poison.
Mr. Cole’s smile drops instantly and Mrs. Cole turns to me in horror, before glaring at her daughter. “Geneva! Stop acting like a petulant child. Kolya, I am so sorry for my daughter’s behavior.”
“Geneva.”
Everyone turns to June. This is the first time she’s spoken in at least twenty minutes. Her eyes are fixed on her sister. The hazel in them burns dark like firewood.
Geneva exhales sharply. “Excuse me. I’m going to get some air.”
She leaves the table. June glances at me regretfully, but before she can apologize, her mother beats her to it. “Kolya, I can’t apologize enough. My daughters have never been very disciplined.”
“I’m a dancer,” June interrupts. “Discipline is built into the job.”
“Are you still, though? I didn’t realize you were dancing again,” Mrs. Cole says in a tight voice.
“You know I can’t.”
“Oh, darling, dancing was always a pipe dream. It was never very realistic, now, was it?”
“How would you know?” June demands. “It’s not like you or Dad ever came to one of my performances.”
“June,” Mrs. Cole says with a nervous glance in my direction, “there’s no need to get worked up.”
“Exactly,” Mr. Cole jumps in. “In any case, we’re very happy for you. You seem to have finally turned your life around.”
“Oh yeah?” June fires back. “Tell me, how exactly have I ‘turned my life around’?”
“Well, you’ve made a great choice in agreeing to marry this fine young man here,” Mr. Cole says, shooting me a smile. I’m pretty sure I can see giant Rolex watches swimming in his eyes when he looks at me. “This will be the best contribution you can make to society.”
June opens her mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. She’s too flustered to defend herself right now.
So I decide to do it for her.
“Neither one of you preening fools knows your own daughter very well if you think that marrying me is the best contribution she can make to society,” I snarl. “She’s bright and beautiful. More importantly, she’s kind and caring. She has a lot more to offer the world than to simply take on the mantel of wife and mother. I’m sure she’ll excel at both roles, but that is most certainly not all she is or can be.”
Mr. Cole is staring a hole in the floor between his feet.
Geneva, back and leaning in the door, applauds sarcastically. “Wow, what a speech.”
But it’s Mrs. Cole who catches my attention first. She doesn’t look as put-off by my rebuke as I might’ve expected. Her eyebrows are furrowed in concentration.
Then she looks up at me. “D-did you say ‘mother’?” Mrs. Cole asks abruptly. “June… are you pregnant?”
