“What is all this?”
Gordon smirked. “I thought you’d like a game as husband and wife.”
Chris nodded. “Of course.”
Gordon smiled and pulled out her chair and she sat down at the table. Gordon sat down opposite her and flexed his fingers. “I found an old timer we can use. This way it keeps the game going faster.”
“Won’t people notice we’re missing?”
Gordon shrugged. “They’ll probably think we’re getting a start on the kids.”
Chris almost choked. She laughed. “Maybe that won’t be so humiliating. I know you’ll beat me. You have that look in your eye.”
“What look?”
“You know the look.”
She looked down at the chessboard. “So, let’s get a move on, shall we?”
Gordon nodded. “Let’s make a bet. The winner gets to choose whether we have a boy or a girl. The loser has no say in the matter, and cannot attempt in any way to change the winner’s mind.”
Chris nodded. “You’re on!”
****
Lilly sat on the edge of her seat, chewing the ends of her fingernails. She could hear her parents arguing in the house, and she couldn’t help feeling terribly guilty. Christina took hold of her hand and squeezed it firmly. Lilly traced her friend’s wedding ring slowly. “It’s so beautiful. I still cannot believe you’re married. It’s like a dream.”
Christina smiled and held out her hand in front of her. “It’s beautiful, don’t you think? Everything seems so unreal. Being back here as a married woman…I could never have imagined it would have happened so fast.”
Lilly laughed. “Me neither. And I am so happy that you will be adopting children one day…that will be so exciting! Gordon really is a nice guy.”
Christina smiled. “He sure is!”
“I still can’t believe his ex- had the nerve to try and break up the wedding!”
Christina laughed. “I know. It was crazy! No one knows where she is. The last we heard of her she had booked a flight to Guam.”
“Guam.”
Christina shrugged. “Don’ ask me!”
Even though Lilly seemed happy for her, Christina noticed her friend seemed distant, something which was odd for Lilly. Lilly was the headstrong one, the belle of the ball, the girl that every girl both admired and hated at the same time. The girl that every man wanted to sleep with, but didn’t want to make their wife.
“Are you okay? You seem nervous,” she said, smiling at her friend in reassurance.
Lilly sighed. “Is this how you felt when you were told you were already engaged? My stomach is in knots; my head is a whirlwind of thoughts. My mind is racing…what if they say no to me marrying Thomas? Then Angelique and I will not be able to be together. I don’t want to have a secret relationship.” She sighed. “My family will not even speak to me. They will not even look in my direction.”
Christina smiled. “They cannot say no. It’s a perfect union.”
“But what about the poisoning, and the allegations about …”
“I think you’ll be surprised they aren’t just allegations…listen…”
Lilly listened to the arguing in the house. She could make out six different voices: her parents, Thomas’ parents, and Peter Von Willem’s parents. The Von Willem family was a little surprised by the allegations, but Peter’s mother was surprisingly more understanding than his father. Apparently she already knew about the way Peter treated women. Several mothers had approached Peter’s mother with angry words about Chinese burns and bruises on hips their daughters received after vising Peter, so it was not a surprise that Lilly had such reserves about marrying him. They weren’t even surprised he had tried to poison his fiancé.
“My daughter will not be marrying a man who may cause her to miscarriage in the future. I am sorry, but this marriage is off. It is not in the best interests of the family.”
Lilly listened intently as her father argued with Peter’s father. She stood up. “I must tell them about Thomas! This is my chance.”
Christina nodded. “Yes, go and tell them now!”
Lilly jumped up and ran inside. Christina followed her, wanting to stay by her friend’s side. She was a married woman now, she would surely be respected by the other women.
****
Everyone was standing around in the dining room, yelling at each other in some way or form. Lilly looked distressed, and Christina knew she had to do something to help. So, she brazenly stepped up on one of the chairs and yelled, “everyone, be quiet!”
Suddenly, the room was silent. Gordon came out of the bathroom, looking confused. Apparently he had missed what all the fuss was about. Christina looked around the room, feeling all eyes on her. In truth, it had been less daunting getting married. For a second she wished she had kept her mouth shut, but she knew she had to be strong for her friend, and also to present herself as a woman, not a young married girl.
“I don’t know why everyone is arguing about this. It is obvious that Lilly and Peter should not get married.” She looked at Lilly’s mother, who was red in the face. “I’m sorry to intervene, but this is in the best interest of your daughter. What if she miscarried because of the violence inflicted upon her? Or if she is poisoned again? What if she is unable to produce a male heir? What if the poisoning turns into something more sinister?”
Peter’s parents stared at her angrily. His mother stepped forward, pale-faced and seething with anger. “How dare you suggest my son would beat his wife? Besides, a little slap now and then isn’t that bad. It’s about keeping order. As to the poisoning, nothing has been proven. Peter has been released until further investigation!”
Christina stared at the iron-gray-haired woman in front of her. “How can you say that? And in front of Lilly’s parents?” She turned to Lilly’s mother and pleaded with her. “I know that arranged marriages can work out. I am happy with my husband. I love him, and we’re going to love our son. But some just don’t. Your son was planning to kill Lilly! To kill!”
Gordon smiled tenderly at her. “I know it seems easier to just marry off your children to whoever is the richest, but marrying for love is a bonus….even if you have to grow to love your partner.”
Peter’s mother stared at him icily. “Yes, the perfect little family, with your adopted children. Just wonderful! But this is different! My son is not a bad person.”
Lilly’s mother stepped forward. “I want to see my daughter marry a wealthy husband, but not if it means she sacrifices her health and safety.”
Lilly went over to her mother and took her hand. “I want to marry Thomas Blackwood and live with him and his sister. The Blackwood family is well off; they own an estate and two inner-city townhouses, they have investments in companies…a lot of shares. Thomas would be a good husband. He would be able to provide for me, and he wouldn’t hit, or attempt to poison me. He is a kind and gentle man who would be able to take care of me and would not jeopardise my chances of having children and producing heirs.”
Lilly’s mother was silent for a few moments. She looked over at Peter’s parents, and then to her husband, who seemed quite happy with the idea. She squeezed Lilly’s hand and nodded. “Is this what you want, Lilly Pad?”
Lilly nodded. “Yes. It will be perfect.”
Lilly’s mother turned to Christina and smiled. “And I’m sure you had a helping hand in all of this?”
Christina smiled. “Of course I did. I want Lilly to be happily married like I am. Gordon and I are really in love.”
“And I have never, and will never, hurt Christina,” Gordon added.
Peter’s mother shook her head in disgust. She glared at Lilly’s parents. “This is preposterous! We had a deal! You cannot turn your back on it! Our son is an innocent man!”
Lilly’s father stepped forward, tall and looming. “I am quite sure that section three mentions that in an event that the likelihood of producing an heir is diminished, and then the agreement can be reviewed and voi
ded if necessary. Now, I am pretty sure that a miscarriage caused by poison or abuse is a pretty darn good reason to void an agreement.” He looked at his daughter and smiled. “You are quite happy to marry Thomas Blackwood and live with his spinster sister?”
Lilly nodded. “That is an arranged marriage I actually want.”
Lilly’s father laughed. “Well then, we’ve got another wedding to plan!”
Christina smiled and caught Gordon’s eye. She was so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man, and she knew that when Lilly married Thomas, she would be very happy. Even if she did have a female lover on the side! She walked over to him and poked his stomach playfully.
“So, are we painting the nursery pink or blue?”
The End
Who Loves Them? (Who--? Series) Page 17
