by Minx Charmer
~~~
Julian and Ethan met in the gazebo of the Templeton estate, to discuss the rules of the competition and set the starting date for the Monday after the Sanderson’s party.
“It is customary for us all to go to the event and welcome the new family, so I shall be there with Valeria and of course you and your entire team are welcome. It will be a nice place to formally announce the competition and give the rules to the participants. Does that sound good to you?”
Ethan’s blue eyes lit up at Julian’s invitation “But of course it does. I think it is an excellent opportunity to get to know the people a bit better, as the competition will take a couple of days and we could also tell them that you have arranged to hold it on the Templeton grounds. I am certain that they would love to hear it.”
Julian grimaced “Yes I agree but I haven’t told my father yet, so I guess I better get started on that, which will probably be the most difficult part of the whole thing.”
Ethan raised his brows “Better you than I is all I have to say about that. Oh and one more thing…I will bring a date of my own if that is all right. She is a beautiful girl from right here in your community.”
Julian inclined his head with a slight smile “That was fast. May I inquire as to who your date will be?”
Ethan nodded with delight “Absolutely. Her name is Molly and she is the head cook, and only cook for that matter, at the Daffodil Inn, the place where we ate when we arrived. What a beautiful woman she is. I am hoping to convince her that we should go steady if she is willing to move over to my neck of the woods. Do you know her well?”
Julian could not recall the last time he felt as though the rug had been pulled from under his feet, but this was one of them. As his face froze into stony silence, Ethan laughed rather uncomfortably and made a hasty goodbye.
Julian did not care if he got run over by a truck, as long as he never saw him again. Unaccustomed to the strong emotion that he couldn’t put a name to, he paced the stony ground kicking at the rocks with his shoes. The beauty of the surroundings made no impression upon him as his entire outlook became dark and gloomy. Molly had a boyfriend? Well that certainly didn’t take long especially after everyone insisted she was crazy about him. Perhaps he should ask her himself. That was a better plan. Ask her and warn her about strange men who were only passing through. It was clear she had no idea what she was doing. He decided to deal with his father in the evening. At the moment he needed to see Molly.
~~~
Ethan dropped by the Inn’s kitchen for an unannounced visit and Molly did her best to accommodate him. However, his close proximity forced her to stop the King Crab soup she was making and give him the attention he wanted. “I am working Ethan and only have a moment to spare. Your being underfoot does not help and I don’t want Valeria or her mother to get upset with me. The ingredients for this soup are expensive and can quickly be ruined, if not prepared well. Can’t this wait until after work?”
With an impish grin, he shook his head and moved closer, as he filled her in on the news he couldn’t wait to share “Dearest Molly, I had to come. I spoke to Julian about the competition and we agreed to have it on his estate. I am not sure if you knew about that exactly, as the whole town is buzzing with the news, but I wanted to give you the heads up.”
With mixed feelings, Molly tried to show a happy face “Oh that sounds nice. I am sure that most of us would like to visit the area. I have heard it is quite beautiful these days.”
Ethan nodded enthusiastically “The estate is lovely but the gardens are exceptional. Julian told me your mother has the Midas touch with plants. Amazing really.”
“Yes she does and she is enjoying her work there.”
“Haven’t you been up to the big house ever since she started?”
Molly shook her head and murmured sadly “I haven’t been invited.”
Ethan leaned forward until his forehead almost touched Molly’s “Beg your pardon my dear?”
When Molly didn’t immediately respond, Ethan decided to follow through on the impulse he felt since the moment they met. With a quick jerk, he pulled Molly into his embrace and kissed her firmly on the mouth.
It was at this precise moment that Julian walked into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks. Molly sprang back with a guilty look, as her face flamed red at the fury in Julian’s eyes. If it wasn’t for the fact that her feet were holding her body, she might have fallen down from the sudden onslaught of weakness. Ethan looked at them both with a sheepish expression as he bid a hasty farewell. “We’ll catch up later dear. Take care.”
The silence which followed his departure was so absolute that Molly could hear each distinct heartbeat. Julian’s eyes bore into hers with a flurry of emotions crossing his face. She watched his eyes narrow into points of steel as his lips flattened into a thin line of displeasure. “Well now, here I thought you were such a fine upstanding woman” he said with sarcasm dripping from each word “A fine woman of undisputable character and yet I find you are just like every other girl with her own agenda. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Molly’s mouth was dry and her tongue clung to her palate. She couldn’t seem to string two thoughts together much less respond. Her inability to answer his question only served to inflame his anger.
His howl of fury echoed within the room as he crashed his fist on the smooth surface of the nearby table.
“Answer me, blast you.”
Her lips trembled as Molly bowed her head. Each angry word felt as though it seared its way into her heart and exposed her feelings like an open wound. The desire to fall into his arms begging him to believe in her was strong, but her feet were rooted to the ground. She thought she could bear anything that life would throw at her, but the look of contempt etched across Julian’s face was overwhelming. Unable to respond, she said nothing as he stood there like an imposing fortress, unyielding in his criticism of her supposed faults.
When Yolanda ran into the kitchen, tears of relief ran down Molly’s hot cheeks.
“Hey there girlfriend, I have the perfect dress for that party we are…-” Coming to a complete standstill, Yolanda took in the scene with a quick glance and instantly came to Molly’s defense. “And just what are you doing here glaring at her like that, Mr. High and Mighty?”
Julian blinked rapidly, as he attempted to explain. “I am just, just um, visiting a bit to talk to Molly about, um, actually…”
Yolanda would have none of it. She pointed her finger to the door and stamped her feet “You sir are nothing but trouble, so kindly remove yourself and leave my friend alone. Can’t you see she is distressed? It wouldn’t take a Harvard education to figure that one out. Molly does not want you here and neither do I. Be gone, oh insolent one.”
With a reluctant glimmer of admiration, Julian inclined his head. “I see she has a great ally in you. I remember the scandal you made when that horse ran away with her so many years ago. It seems you are still the same.”
Yolanda nodded and stuck her nose into the air “Don’t you ever forget it. Now scram and let me fix whatever mess you have caused. Go now…shoo, shoo.”
When Julian left rather reluctantly, Molly ran to her friend and fell into her arms as her body shook with sobs. It took five minutes for Yolanda to calm her down. “There, there now girl. Stop all that. It can’t be that bad so dry that face and tell me what that arrogant nerd has been telling you.”
Molly sputtered, as she murmured through tears “Don’t call him that. He is not a nerd.”
Yolanda sighed in relief “Still defending him hmmm? You must be feeling better. Now tell me all about it and let me know what I can do to help.”
~~~
Valeria could not break Julian’s icy silence. With worried lines across her brow she tried every trick to catch his attention even offering to wash his feet, but nothing worked. He was in the blackest mood she had ever seen and she couldn’t figure out what was going on. Still she would not give up that easi
ly. With the softest voice she could muster she tried to get some reaction from his impassive face “Julian, love talk to me. What is happening with you and why are you so upset? Surely it can’t be that bad? Is it your father? Are you remembering your mother? Do you want to visit her grave and unburden yourself? I could take you. I am a much better driver now and I promise we won’t end up in a ditch.”
Julian looked at her sideways but refused to respond. Valeria gave up and left him alone. Why he was in such a state was obviously beyond her capacities to figure out, so she would leave him to his own devices. Perhaps the black mood would pass by quickly. At least she hoped so.
~~~
Lionel’s curiosity was piqued. Rose had told him something was wrong with Julian, but he hadn’t believed she was right. However, at the evening meal, Lionel came to conclusion that Rose could be correct. Something was wrong with his son. The sullen silence and dark clouds that hung over Julian’s head pointed to something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he and Valeria had gotten into a fight. If so, Lionel needed to fix things as soon as possible. It was his plan that Julian should announce the engagement to Ms. Trenton at the house warming party for the new neighbors on Saturday. That would give the community plenty of news to talk about in the upcoming days.
With deliberate nonchalance he directed his attention to his son “Julian my boy…how is Valeria these days?”
“Fine Father.”
“Hmmm…I am glad to hear it, but she hasn’t been here in a few days. Perhaps you should invite her again, don’t you think?’
“I don’t think so Father. I am not going to see her anymore and I will tell her parents that any future plans are permanently off.”
Lionel choked on his sautéed, chicken breast and took a few moments to collect himself. Good gracious! Things were much worse than he previously thought. And yet, something in Julian’s tone pointed to the finality of the matter, which was more troubling than anything Lionel had imagined. “But son, all of the arrangements have been made. We are men of honor, you and I. Surely you do not wish to dash a young lady’s hopes.”
With a wry smile Julian shook his head “Her hopes will not be dashed. She is like a monkey…if she falls from one branch she will simply grab hold of the next one. Besides, her original boyfriend has always been standing by and he loves the very ground she walks on. Some Livingston or other. Tommy I believe.”
Lionel did not care about the particulars of any boyfriend who loved Valeria. Getting up, he leaned over and met Julian’s gaze dead on. With a thunderous frown between his eyes, he pointed his finger at his son and bellowed “That is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard in my life. Whatever disagreements you may have had will end this instant do you hear me? You will march over there and declare yourself to that woman once and for all. No more waiting, gifts, travels or any other such matters until you find yourself. I want you to get this done.”
Julian placed his hands upon the table and matched his father’s gaze with a thunderous one of his own. “Father, I do love you to some degree and I respect you just as much.” he bit out with clipped words “however from this day forward I will choose my own life, my own plans and my own future. And you will not interfere any longer. I want to be happy, which is something you fail to comprehend. If you truly loved my mother as deeply as you claim, you should understand when I say… I wish to marry for love and not for convenience. I bid you goodnight.”
Lionel watched Julian’s retreating form and felt frustration eat at his soul. His plans were falling apart and he had no doubt who was responsible. It had to be the red head. That Molly girl who worked at the Inn. Somehow she had gotten under Julian’s skin and the result was outright rebellion. The boy was dead set on upsetting years of planning. Just casting his future to the wind on some fanciful notion of love. Ignoring the tug of conscience that reminded him of his departed wife Elenora, Lionel decided that the moment had come to visit Molly personally. It was time to get her out of Julian’s life once and for all.
~~~
Belinda kept her voice as low as possible, as she brought Molly up to speed on the latest news at Templeton Manor. “The walls have ears my dear and I don’t want one of the servants to hear something and take it back to Mr. Chambers. Julian’s father is a bit of an ogre you know.”
“I know Mom. You’ve told me that before. How are things going?”
Belinda brushed of her question and focused on her daughter instead. “Don’t worry about me. How are you doing? Are you feeling better after that bitter spat with Julian?”
Molly’s jumbled feelings prevented an honest reply “I really don’t know, but I sure hate to leave it like this. If only you had seen the way he looked at me. It was enough to make me run and hide.”
“Darling, I have told you before that the sun does not rise and set on a man. But I do have some good news for you, so listen carefully.”
Molly’s ears perked up at her mother’s conspiratorial tone and she listened with breathless anticipation.
“Something is up with Julian. He has been in such a black mood, that even his father is avoiding his company. I have never seen anything like it. When he shows up the staff scatters like bug under a table. Even I avoid him, although he doesn’t look at me with dislike. Sometimes, I think he wants to talk with me and then he changes his mind at the last minute. I would say that a conflict of some sort is going on inside of him, so I think you have finally made an impression of some kind. The question is… what kind of impression have you made?”
Molly refused to get her hopes up and dashed the niggling feeling of elation at her mother’s comments “It is probably nothing. However, Yolanda seems to think that I should do my best to ignore him for a few days, but I don’t have the energy or the heart for something like that. I feel that I don’t ever want to see him again.”
Belinda rolled her eyes in disbelief “Yeah right! You’ve been in love with that boy since childhood and you are never going to forget him. It’s as simple as that. I actually agree with Yolanda. Remember the welcoming party this Saturday at the Sanderson’s? I want you to be on your best behavior and ignore him to death. I am curious to know how he will respond to that.”
Molly allowed her heart to hope again “Why do you say that Mom?”
Belinda laughed knowingly. “Because, my dear, his reaction will let you know whether you finally have him or if you’ve lost him forever.”
As the feeling of anticipation increased, Molly considered her mother’s words. Was it possible that Julian did care in some small way? Was his reaction to Ethan’s hasty kiss just plain anger, or could it be something more, like good old fashioned jealousy? “I’ll do it. I’ll be at the party in my best dress and this time I will pretend that Julian does not exist.”
“Bravo Molly! It’s about time that you gave him a taste of his own medicine. Actually, my dear, now that I think about it I have a much better idea than the party this weekend, but I will tell you tomorrow.”
“No way are you letting me go like that” Molly cried unable to hold back her curiosity “I want to know what that cryptic comment means. What is your idea?”
“Well” her mother replied with an impish edge to her voice “what do you think about participating in the new chili competition?”
Molly was nonplussed “What does a chili competition have to do with me and Julian?”
Belinda lowered her voice to a whisper “Well if you cook something great, you can give it to him to eat. Remember dear, a man’s heart is sometimes through his stomach.”
Molly laughed out loud “You have been talking to Yolanda I see! Catch you later mom. Love you.”
Chapter 9
Molly finished up the breakfast for the day and sat down to enjoy an egg omelet. On her third bite Daisy came down to find her. Her expression reflected discontent and smoldering anger was hidden in the depths of her eyes. With a quick glance at the kitchen she turned to Molly and pointed to the upper floor. “You have a guest Mol
ly Makepeace. Kindly make yourself presentable and come up the living room. The quicker, the better I would say.”
Molly glanced at her half eaten omelet and wondered when her life would return to some degree of normality. Before she could follow Daisy, the phone rang and she picked up the call. It was Ethan and she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. “I don’t really want to talk to you right now and I haven’t seen you for days anyway.”
“Please, please don’t be too angry with me” Ethan pleaded “I didn’t mean to kiss you like that. It just happened.”
Molly was not appeased “I am sure it just happened, but it caused me a great deal of upset.”
Ethan’s reply was decidedly childish “The only upset I saw was the big man himself, Julian Chambers. He looked like he wanted to tear you to bits. Did he?”
“Why would you care Ethan? We have just met, both you and I.”
“But I love you Molly.” he declared dramatically “You don’t have to take a lifetime to know when you’ve found the right person. You are my sun, the stars and the moon at night.”
