“You suspect other motives?”
“I don’t think he’s interested in Sue. He may be interested in her money. But no one should know how much she received. As far as I know, she hasn’t told anyone and Trevor is never in town to tell anyone. If I were the paranoid type, I’d say that George and Daniel feel like I owe them money.”
“Do you?”
“No! I can’t believe you would even ask that. I only do honest business dealings. I’m not my father.”
“Did your father have anything to do with them?”
“I don’t know who my father associated with, and I really don’t care.”
“Maybe you should start caring.”
He sighed. “How can I put the past to rest when everyone insists on bringing it up? I almost wish he left me nothing in his will.”
“Then you wouldn’t have married Sue.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t you think I understand that? It was just a comment. Ever since I did marry her, George has been unusually interested in my relationship with her and how much we both got out of the deal.”
“If I were you, I’d watch my back. It’s time to be paranoid.”
“Well, Daniel’s coming over on Wednesday. I have a plan to detect his motives for coming over. I know he’s up to something but I have to be careful in how I figure him out. It could be that all he is interested in is Sue’s money.” He paused. “Did you happen to catch any part of the conversation that George and Daniel were having?”
“No, I didn’t. One of my kids got sick so my wife and I had to leave early.”
“That’s too bad. Oh well. They probably wouldn’t have discussed anything of consequence in public.”
***
When Jake came home that evening, his mood was worse than it had been when he woke up. This time ten more bachelors sent Sue flowers. He recognized a couple of names. He sighed. What am I going to have to do? Get all these men into a room and tell them to leave her alone? Then an idea came to him. Why not?
Lydia ran over to him. “Sue’s home early, sir!”
“Go stall her,” he ordered.
“How?”
He watched as Sue walked down the sidewalk. Why does she have to look so nice? “Take your son out there. She goes crazy every time she sees a baby.”
Lydia nodded and went to wake up her sleeping child.
Jake started throwing the flowers into a trash can, but the trash can got too full.
Lydia quickly ran to the front door and opened it just in time to stop Sue from entering the house. “Would you like to see Timmy?”
“Uh...sure. Can I see him inside the house?”
“No. Actually, he needs some fresh air. He’s been cooped up all day.” She shut the door before Sue could protest.
Ralph entered the room and laughed. “More suitors for Sue?”
“It’s not funny,” Jake growled. “Get me two trash bags.”
He didn’t stop laughing as he obeyed his boss.
Why is everyone suddenly interested in Sue anyway? Just because she changed her clothes and hairstyle, she’s attractive?
As Ralph returned with the trash bags, Jake said, “Take all of the new clothes out of Sue’s room and hide them in my closet. Let her wear her old stuff for awhile. And invite all of these men over tonight for dinner. By the way, have Lydia ask for Sue to make the meal. I know, tell Lydia to be too distracted with Timmy to cook.”
“Those are all strange requests, sir.”
“Just do them!”
“Yes, sir.” He shrugged and went up to Sue’s bedroom.
Her new clothes belong in my room anyway, Jake thought as he shoved the remaining flowers into the trash bags and threw the bags into the trash bin. The madness has to stop. These men can’t keep doing this forever. I’m getting rid of them once and for all.
He mentally noted his untidy appearance as he opened the door. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he casually greeted.
Sue was holding Timmy and Lydia was discussing the gardener’s idea to trim the bushes into the shapes of different animals.
“We’re having a dinner party tonight,” he said. “Let’s get ready for it.”
Sue quickly handed Timmy back to Lydia and followed him into the den. “A dinner party? Here?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“But we agreed we didn’t like those things.” She looked overwhelmed.
“I don’t have a choice. I need you to make dinner.”
Now there was panic in her expression. “I can’t cook. I’m no good at it. I’ll make everyone sick.”
Why isn’t she insisting that she won’t be a part of this? Because she’s trying to please me. “I have a very good reason for what I’m doing. You’ll have to trust me.” He sat at his desk. “I have to write invitations before Ralph comes to deliver them.”
She stood in the den, speechless.
I ought to just take her over to the bearskin rug and get this over with. Then the men can’t bother her since she’ll stay with me. He seriously considered the option but she left the room before he could act on it.
He quickly finished the invitations and handed them to Ralph to send out. Then he went to change so he wouldn’t look so disheveled. It was one thing for Sue to look bad tonight. She was supposed to look that way, but he was supposed to look as well groomed as usual. After he had time to freshen up, he went to the kitchen to see what progress, or rather disaster, that Sue was preparing. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that Sue was frantically running around the kitchen by herself. Lydia and Ralph were conveniently too busy to help her.
“I didn’t know what to make so I’m attempting my best dishes. I don’t want to make anyone too sick,” she fretted as she stirred the soup.
Jake inspected the lumpy white liquid blob. “What is it?”
“It’s supposed to be potato soup.”
He nodded apprehensively.
The timer went off and she took the meatloaf out of the oven. “I think I got the recipe right this time,” she said. “I didn’t even burn it so that’s good.” She set it on the counter and ran over to another counter to a pot and mashed the potatoes with a large fork. “How many people are coming tonight?”
“Ten,” he replied softly. “All men.”
“Is this another business dinner?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t help but stand in awe that she would go through all this hassle just for him. I can’t give her up. There’s no way I’m annulling this marriage.
“I don’t think this will be enough.” She quickly scanned the cabinets and threw some boxed and canned items on the counter. “I might have to make some new recipes. I hope I don’t kill anyone. I wish Lydia and Ralph were available to help. It just isn’t right to subject these people to my cooking.”
“You’re doing great,” he assured her. “I’ll eat everything you put on my plate.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better because it doesn’t.” She opened a couple of cans and bags. “I hate to make the tuna and green bean casserole again but I don’t know how to make much else. Oh, I can make oatmeal and bean soup too.”
He grinned. The men would be appalled that their fine dinner was going to entail such simple meals. He saw a brown thick liquid in a small bowl with a spoon in it. He picked up the spoon and cringed at the slimy consistency of it. Was it supposed to be gravy for the mashed potatoes?
“What time are they coming?” she asked as she threw the casserole into the oven.
“In half an hour.”
She sighed in despair. “I’ll be lucky to make it by then.”
He knew what he had to do next. She was still gorgeous in her navy blue dress and her hair, though slightly out of place, was as pretty as ever. He picked up a glass of her hot chocolate and pretended to slip so that it landed on her dress. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” he quickly lied. “Here.” He threw a towel at her but knew her efforts to dry herself off would be in vain. While s
he gave it her best shot, he dipped a spoon into what he suspected was tapioca pudding and poured it on her hair.
“What was that?” She turned to him and reached up to touch her hair. “Yuck!” She inspected her sticky fingers.
“I was going to try the pudding. I slipped again. I’m sorry.” He hoped he looked innocent.
“What am I supposed to do? I don’t have time to wash my hair.”
“Here. Let me help you with your hair.” He pulled her hair back into a bun. Fortunately, her hair was curly enough so it stayed in place. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to change. I’ll finish up in here while you get dressed, alright?”
“Alright. Thank you for helping me, Jake.” She ran out of the room.
He pushed aside his guilty feelings as he washed his sticky hands. She would thank him one day for the trouble he was putting her through now. He mixed a couple of canned fruits together for a fruit salad and added some sugar for flavor. Then he took the casserole out of the oven when the timer went off.
Lydia held Timmy as she entered the kitchen. “The guests are arriving. Ralph is seeing them in and seating them in the dining room. Are you sure about this, Jake? This kitchen looks like a war zone.”
“Everything is perfect. Just remember to stay out of sight. Ralph needs to be out of here once the guests are seated.”
He needed Sue to be making frequent trips to the kitchen while he talked to the men.
By the time Sue came back into the kitchen, Lydia and Ralph were conveniently out of sight. Sue was flustered. She had to put on one of her old dresses. “Ralph said that all my clothes needed to be washed. How could they possibly get dirty just hanging in my closet?”
“Timmy spit up all over them earlier when Lydia was putting some clothes away. You know how babies are. They’re incredibly messy.”
She sighed. “Well, you can’t fault a baby for being a baby. I’m sorry I look like this, Jake. I don’t want to embarrass you but I can’t find Lydia or Ralph anywhere.”
He smiled. “You look pretty no matter what you wear.” Unfortunately, that was true. He hoped none of the other men noticed that she was still beautiful in her old clothes and hair pulled back into that hideous bun. He could only hope they were too shallow to look past her clothes and hairstyle. “Do you have everything covered in here?”
“I think so,” she replied, smoothing the wrinkles on her dress.
“Good. I have to greet the guests.”
He left the kitchen and smiled at her suitors. They were all dressed up for the occasion. “Good evening, gentlemen. I appreciate your coming on such short notice. When I noticed there were so many flowers for Sue, I decided it was time to give everyone a chance to get to know her as she truly is. What she is like in public is drastically different from what she’s like in private.”
“I must admit, that I am surprised you are open to the idea of us being interested in her,” Mr. Gordon, Jennifer’s brother, remarked.
The other men nodded their agreement.
“We are all aware that what Sue and I have is a business arrangement. I know she will be available in five months,” Jake politely replied. He motioned for everyone to sit. “As luck would have it, my two servants are unable to serve dinner tonight, so Sue has graciously offered to cook and serve the meal herself.”
The men looked impressed.
“May we ask you some questions regarding Sue?” Mr. Murphy asked.
“You may. I will reveal everything,” Jake replied. Everything I want you to know, that is. He crossed his arms and got ready.
“Is it true that she received a large sum of money at the wedding?” Mr. Dante asked.
Jake hid his disgust at the question. “Actually, all the money she received went to pay off her family’s debts. Once she goes back to being a spinster, she will only have the same amount of money she had before we got married.” That was a lie, of course, but he was determined to weed out the greedy men as quickly as possible.
Two men looked disappointed.
“If you would rather not pursue her further, I will understand,” he calmly stated. “I won’t mention the reason for your leaving to Sue.”
They nodded, said thank you and left.
Two down. Eight to go.
Sue came out with a couple of plates. “I didn’t have much notice, so I put together what I could. Who likes green bean casserole and who likes meatloaf? I also have oatmeal.”
Jake noticed the frown on three of the men’s faces as they took in her premarital appearance.
As each man said what he wanted, she served it to him. When she reached Jake, she asked him what he wanted.
“I’ll take whatever you have left,” he told her. You are the sweetest, most lovely woman in the world. And anyone who can’t see that doesn’t deserve you.
“Actually, I just remembered another dinner party I have to go to,” Mr. Ronald said. “I apologize, Mr. Mitchell.”
“No apology necessary,” he stated.
Three down. Seven to go.
A couple of men choked on their food.
Sue came out and brought Jake a plate of meatloaf and the lumpy mashed potatoes. “I’m sorry, Jake. I didn’t have the heart to give you the casserole again.”
“You’re doing great,” he whispered. He ate his meal without flinching. The more he tasted the stuff, the less he shuddered when he took his first bite.
She looked uneasily around the room as the men gagged on her food. “I’ll get more water and hot chocolate,” she told everyone.
“I’m out of here,” Mr. Roper said.
“I’ll join you,” Mr. Murphy and Mr. Broderick added in unison.
Six down. Four to go.
“I don’t think cooking is the only thing a woman is good for,” Mr. Gordon spoke up. “Though this fruit salad is actually good.”
Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Frank, and Mr. Unger agreed as they ignored everything on their plates except for the fruit salad.
“She seems to be good with the children,” Mr. Maxwell said. “My nephew adores her at the story hour in the library. Does she wish to have children?”
“It would be nice to leave a legacy behind,” Mr. Unger added.
“Oh yes, Sue loves kids,” Jake answered between bites. “In fact, she was telling me that she wants to have at least ten. She’s hoping for twins or triplets too, so you’ll have a busy house.” The truth was, she didn’t mention having children. She probably assumed it wasn’t in her future so she didn’t bother to consider it. She did look nice holding Timmy. Maybe children aren’t so bad. Jake hadn’t considered children either, but perhaps it was time to.
“At least ten?” Mr. Maxwell frowned. “That’s too many. I’m surprised she has such a goal at her age. She doesn’t have many childbearing years left. I don’t want to be a child factory.” He shook his head. “Please excuse me, Mr. Mitchell.” He left.
Seven down. Three to go.
“The prospect of having ten children doesn’t bother you?” Jake asked the three remaining suitors.
“The Lord says children are a blessing from Him,” Mr. Unger replied.
“Alright.” Jake finished eating and drank the hot chocolate. It actually didn’t taste half-bad this time. “What other questions do you have?”
Sue came back out. “Oh, there are quite a few uneaten plates. I’ll collect those.”
After she left, Mr. Unger smiled. “She certainly is willing to pitch in and help out. I admire that in a woman. She’s not afraid of hard work.”
“She does work hard,” Jake agreed. “In fact, she works so hard that she doesn’t have the energy to engage in other pursuits.”
He mischievously grinned. “Then how does she plan to have ten kids?”
“She told me she only plans to do it ten times. She figures she’ll get pregnant right away.”
“But certainly she will give it some effort.”
“Nope. The whole process disgusts her. She says it’s too messy and she just wants t
o get it over with as soon as possible.”
Mr. Gordon frowned. “What does she plan to do? Just lie there and watch the clock?”
“I really don’t know. I suspect as much. The only time I got a chance to touch her was at the wedding. Or at the dance when she has to give the impression of being interested in touching because she’s in public.”
“Are you saying she has no sexual interest at all?”
“She’s as cold as an ice cube.”
“Well, that’s it for me,” Mr. Gordon said. “I can’t handle that.”
Eight down. Two to go.
“But still, she’s nice to look at, no matter what she’s wearing,” Mr. Unger reasoned.
Jake sighed. “If only it was real.”
“You mean, it’s fake?”
“She’s as flat as a board.”
“And how would you know that, Mr. Mitchell?” came an angry voice.
Jake’s face went white. How much did she hear? He dared to glance over his shoulder. Uh oh. As Jeremiah would say, ‘She’s gonna blow.’ “Hello there, honey,” he sweetly said as he gave her a pleading look. “Did you bring dessert?”
“I certainly did,” she snapped. She dropped the bowl of pudding on his head and stomped back into the kitchen.
“That does it for me,” Mr. Unger replied.
“Me too,” Mr. Frank agreed.
Jake didn’t know whether to laugh or beg her forgiveness.
Ralph came into the room. “All the men are gone, sir. I..” He stopped when he saw Jake covered in white pudding. “I assume you said something she took offense to.”
“Yes. But it got rid of the vultures so it was worth it.” He took the bowl off his head and went into the kitchen where she was carelessly chucking dishes into the sink to wash them.
“Whoa! Those plates are expensive,” he warned her.
She glared at him. “Are they? Good.” She casually threw a couple of them over her shoulder.
He quickly caught them.
When she saw her plan was thwarted, she picked up more plates and flung them at him. He managed to catch all but two. “You can do the dishes. I’m going to take a bath. It doesn’t take long to wash a board. Maybe the warm water will thaw out my icicles.”
An Inconvenient Marriage Page 22
