by Mary Smith
“Vance had an indiscretion,” I rush out. I stand in front of my parents. “It happened once. He apologized to me as well.” I wipe my cheeks, trying to keep my voice stable. “It’s over.”
Mum’s mouth drops. “Do you mean you forgive him or…”
“No, it’s over, over. You can call it off. We’re no longer together.”
Chapter Eight
Vance
I’m frozen in place. Dacey lied to her parents about how many women I’ve slept with, and now she’s saying it’s over.
“Dacey, please.” I try to come up with a hundred reasons to stay together, but nothing more comes out. “I…I…”
She holds up her hand. “It’s okay. Really. I think it’s for the best.” She turns back to her father. “Call it off, please.”
If looks could kill, Mr. Grion would be a murderer. He slowly moves his death-glare to Dad. “James.” He says my father’s name coolly. “I don’t fucking care how much money you have, or what you own, but I do care about your word. You gave me your word, as did Laura, that Vance would remain an upstanding gentleman while with Dacey. Now Sarah and I took that to mean he wouldn’t be bed hopping. I kept both of my girls under a tight hold to ensure they would be of the highest standards, and now I learn of your son’s indiscretions. This isn’t making me happy.”
My father, who is a big-bad-ass attorney, shrinks a bit. Peter Grion is Scottish, ginormous in size and someone you don’t want to mess with. Her father’s reputation makes the devil himself look meek.
“Peter—” Dad tries to say something, but Mr. Grion shakes his head.
“Nothing you say is going to matter. Dacey makes these decision. She said it’s over; therefore it is.” He cuts me a glare that causes me to close my eyes and hang my head.
“Let’s go home,” I hear Mr. Grion say. I lift my head and see Dacey’s hurt expression staring back at me before she leaves with her parents.
When the door shuts, my brothers and their wives came into the foyer just as Dad throws his glass across the room, smashing it against the wall.
“Fuck!” he roars.
“Don’t get mad at me. You were the one to open your fucking mouth.”
“You ruined one of my greatest business deals I’ve ever made. All of Peter’s connections could have launched me into a whole new level. But, no, you can’t keep your dick in your pants.”
“Like you can,” I yell back. “Or even Mum. Between the both of you, I’m pretty sure you’ve covered Ireland and Britain and even some of American.”
“Shut it, Vance.” Mum’s face is red with rage. “You’ve screwed this up, and you need to fix it.”
“How? She left.” I point to the door as if they hadn’t seen her walk out.
“I may have an idea.” Robyn speaks up and we all face her. “Leeza and I spent a lot of time with Dacey, and I figured out all she wants is to be loved. She wants a real relationship. If you can prove to her you’re truly sorry and actually want to be with her, she might come around.”
“There.” Dad’s tone changes. “Go be in love with her.”
“It’s not that simple, James,” Mum adds.
“It better be,” he roars again, pointing his finger in my face. “If you don’t make this work, you’re out. Out of the family. Out of money. Out on your bum ass.”
I scoff. “Really? Like that’s a threat.”
“Oh, boy it is. Because what will happen if a PHL team doesn’t draft you? Did you figure out what you’ll do then? You with no money, no proper job training, or education. Who will hire you? If you think you have connections, you’re wrong again. Those connections are through me, and I’ll make your life a living hell.”
These threats are nothing new to me. My parents have been nothing but cold-hearted beings since I was born. My brothers and I had a nanny until we were old enough to be shipped to boarding school. We only came home when they needed us to. To put on a show of the perfect fucking family.
“All right.” Apollo steps in between us. “Vance is going back to my place, and we’ll figure something out.”
“Figure it out fast.” Dad points at us both.
Going back to Apollo’s isn’t where I want to go, but I know Dacey won’t see me no matter how many times I apologize.
Walking into my brother’s, I can see the seriousness on his face. I’m close to both of my brothers, but when I was sent off to boarding school, I ended up where Apollo was. Gerald was schooled in Dublin. It’s why Apollo and I are closer to each other.
“I told you several times to keep your nose clean. This is Peter Grion’s daughter. You have known about this since you were ten.”
“Yep, I was real mature at ten.” I roll my eyes.
“Shut the fuck up, Vance.” Apollo actually yells at me. “This is serious. Not only because of Dacey’s father but our reputation. People know of our traditions and our family values—”
“Ha!” I cut him off. “Family values? That’s a joke. Mum has had more boys with just a reach of her hand than any madam’s black book. Dad’s females are spread out from here to London, Paris, New York, and everywhere else he travels.”
Apollo rubs his temples. “Okay, so we’re not the perfect family, but Dacey’s family is important.”
“I’m not a fucking chess piece,” I bark at him, unable to take it anymore. “I’m tired of how nothing has gone my way in my life and it’s always for someone else’s agenda. What about me? What about my life? I have done everything everyone asked of me and this is my payment? Being kicked out of the family.” It’s hard for me to catch my breath as my blood boils.
Apollo laughs. The fucker laughs at me. “Your life? Your agenda? Excuse me, who has been in Canada for the past two years? Who went to hockey camps in Norway, Finland, Switzerland, America, Canada, and Russia? Who wasn’t pushed into University? Or into a law career like Gerald and me?” We are now nose-to-nose. “Now you need to decide what you’re going to do. If you have cared about Dacey at all then think of her reputation in all of this. She’ll have no prospects, and it won’t matter who her father is.”
Like a knife to my heart I feel pain for Dacey, and I know Apollo is right.
“You won’t have any either, Vance.” He takes a step back. “Look, our family is one that should be written into a therapy book, but we protect each other to the end. If you won’t do it for Dad, think of Gerald and myself? Our wives? This is career ending for all of us. And no matter how much you’ll make in the PHL, it won’t be satisfying knowing you ruined our family.” His eyes don’t blink, and his nostrils are still flared. “Fix it, Vance. Fix it.”
Sleep is something that isn’t happening, and I watch the sunrise from my window. I need to go running. It helps clear my head, and I feel the walls closing in as it is.
All night I tried to think of some grand plan to get Dacey back, but nothing seems to work out in my head. How can I get her back when she’s the one who called it off?
I slip into my running gear and head to the park. I think about our long, but very impersonal, relationship and it’s all been my fault. I really am a screw up. Should I have kept my dick in my pants? Yes, but then look at my parents. Gerald and Apollo are men who I should strive to emulate. They’re faithful to their wives and lead worthy lives.
I jog the first three laps, sprint one, and then jog the next five. All the time I try to think of anything to work it out with Dacey, but it all jumbles in my head.
There’s no good outcome.
Many years ago, at a hockey camp, I had a bunkmate who always said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Now, I need to live it.
I knock on Dacey’s door and wait. I continue to wait, knocking harder because no one is coming to the door. I cuss and look at my watch.
Where is she? It’s ten in the morning.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and text her several times, asking if she’ll talk to me. There’s no reply. I lightly bang my head on the door because there’s no way I can sea
rch all of Belfast for her. And her father knows how to hide things well.
“Are you trying to knock yourself out?”
I whip around and Dacey is standing less than two feet from me, carrying two boxes.
“Why are you here, Vance?” She looks almost mean.
“I need to talk to you.” She starts to say something, but I stop her. “Please. I’m begging. Just give me a few minutes.” She continues to glare at me, but she isn’t saying no. “Dacey, you have a good heart, and I hope I can speak to that side of you. Not the side which looks like it’s about to slaughter me.”
Her shoulders deflate a bit, and I know it’s working. At least, I’m hoping it is.
“Fine. You have five minutes. Hold these.” She shoves the boxes into my arms. “Don’t drop them. They’re flowers for the wedding.”
I hold onto them as she digs around her purse for keys.
“Set them in the kitchen,” she says after opening the door.
I take the boxes into the kitchen and place them on the table. I stand by the counter as she opens one and starts putting the flowers into the fridge. When she finishes, she takes a seat at the table. “Five minutes.” She motions to the chair next to her, and I take a seat.
“I tried every way to come up with a plan to get back into your life and get our arrangement back on track, but in the end, I’m just going to be honest with you. I swear everything I’m saying is one hundred percent true. I swear on the Holy Mother.” I hold up my right hand.
“Okay. Tell me.” She nods.
“I’m starting from the beginning.” I clear my throat and try to find a comfortable spot on the chair. “My parents in no shape, form, or fashion love each other. They have slept with more people than you or I can count. Everything about us and our family is about appearances. My father hates me. There’s no joke in that statement. He never wanted a third child. Anyway, as soon as my brothers and I were old enough we were sent off to boarding schools. When we came home, it was only because of some function where we had to be a family.
“Picking up a hockey stick and skating is the only time I’ve ever felt in control of my life. I love hockey and it’s what I’m good at. The day I told Dad I wasn’t going to be a lawyer, he exploded. It was, and still is, our biggest fight.”
I stop and try to compose myself. Thinking of the night still affects me. We’d gone toe-to-toe before, but that time punches were thrown.
“Somehow, when everything calmed, Mum convinced him to let me pursue hockey. I don’t know how she did it, but I went to Canada.”
Dacey listens to me as I keep going.
“I fucked up by being with other girls and then lying to you about it. I have no excuse. Well, I’m an ass, and I let my dick think for me, but I hurt you and I’m truly sorry. I never wanted you to feel any pain from my actions.”
I see a single tear fall from her blue eyes.
“Last night, after you left with your parents, my family and I argued. Again. They told me I had to fix this between us, and if I didn’t, I would be cut off. Money. Family. Belfast. Everything. But one thing they said kept hitting me hard. Reputation. Of course, Dad is talking about his, but I thought of yours.”
Dacey wipes her cheeks, and I see the confusion on her face.
“I don’t want you to be given a bad rep. I couldn’t care less about me, but you are…good. Dacey, you’re the best person I know, and I mean it from my soul. You are a pure, genuine, fantastic person. You should kill me for what I’ve done. But, I think we should stay together.”
“What?” Dacey exclaims.
“Let me finish. I’m thinking of you. When our community starts talking about why we ended our arrangement, they know I’ll be fine, but you’ll be tainted.”
Dacey crosses her arms and looks away from me.
“You know I’m right. No other man will have you, thinking we’ve already been together, so, I want to make a proposal for us. I will give you my word here and now I’ll be faithful to you and only you. I will not become my parents. I want to be in love, and I want someone to love me.”
I confess the one thing I never thought I would. My parents don’t love me; they barely tolerate me. I want to have a wife and kids and be proud of their accomplishments and let them follow their dreams.
“Are you done?” She wipes her face, whispering her question to me.
“Yes.” She looks over at me. “Do think you could love me?”
“I care for you, and I know I could fall in love with you.”
She takes a deep breath. “I need some time to think.”
I nod, knowing she’s dismissing me. “I plan on still going to the Stag tonight and the wedding,” I inform her. “If you don’t want me to, I won’t.”
“You can go. You already RSVP’d.”
“Okay.” I rise from my chair, as does she.
When Dacey reaches the door, I stop her by reaching for her hand and pulling her into my arms.
“Even if you say no to my proposal, I beg for your forgiveness. Everyone else can hate me, but I can’t bear it you do,” I confess to her.
“Give me some time to think,” she says into my chest. I’m surprised she doesn’t push me away. But I let her go and leave her.
I’m hoping it’s not the last time.
Chapter Nine
Dacey
“What do you think?” I sit on Aimee’s bed as Mum does her hair. I told them everything between Vance and me this morning, and I want their input.
“I still say let Dad kill him,” Aimee states.
“Peter is not killing anyone.” Mum swats at her. Aimee gives me a wink, and I know she’s joking. “But, I hate to say it, Vance has a point,” Mum continues.
“Which is?”
She adds another pin to Aimee’s hair before turning to me. “You have no other prospects and your reputation will be questioned if anyone does approach you.”
My heart falls. Mum isn’t one to not say what’s on her mind, and she will always tell the truth as well.
“Do you think I should take his offer?”
Mum finishes Aimee’s hair and then sits next to me. “I want you to talk to your father first. Don’t let him know this, but he’s the smartest man ever.”
Aimee and I laugh at her. My mum is controlling, but she’s still the most spectacular person. I do want a relationship like my parents have. Yes, they were arranged, and Mum has told us of their trials in the beginning, but soon they both came to realize they loved each other, and their marriage grew.
“Go talk to him now, and we’ll finish getting ready.” Mum smiles and I head out to the living room where Dad is on his phone.
Peter Grion, hard-nosed business man. He runs his business with an iron fist and has a strong work ethic. I wait until he’s done.
“Dad.” I step into the room.
“My darling.” He stands up and hugs me. “You’re beautiful.” He holds out my arms and inspects me.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“I always have time for my girls.” He kisses the top of my head. “Sit.”
We take a seat on the couch. I’m never scared of Dad, as many others claim to be. He’s really a big teddy bear.
“This is about Vance.” It’s not a question.
I nod and tell him the same story I told Mum and Aimee. My father’s face is stone. Although, when you discuss something serious, he’s usually expressionless.
“Mum thought you could help me make a decision.”
“She’s a bright gal,” he beams. “Let me tell you this: I love you three girls more than my soul.”
I smile. He’s always telling us how much he cares for us.
“And I wish more than anything I could take your pain away or break the punk’s knees, but I can’t and you know why?”
I shake my head.
“Because you love him.”
My mouth drops. “No, I care for him. Well, I did anyway.”
“You’re lying, my Dacey. If
you didn’t love him, you wouldn’t have defended him.”
The blood drains from my face.
“He’s been with four, but you told me one because you love him.”
Now, I stop breathing.
“You don’t think I’ve not kept tabs on him, Dacey?”
“I…I…don’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?” I drop my head and stare at my hands on my lap.
“Dacey, when your mother and I picked Vance, it was because you were two good kids and we knew you would be well together.”
“But if you knew about the girls why not do something?” I glance up at him.
“Because…” he stops and, for a second, he seems nervous. “Before your mother and I married, I was a wild lad.”
“What?” Aimee is behind me and almost screams. “Are you kidding?”
“Sit down.” Mum pushes on her shoulder for her to take a place next to me.
“I had other girls in my youth. I cared for no one’s feeling but my own.” He glances at Mum with pain in his eyes. “Sarah was going to break off our marriage. My heart broke, and I realized what the value of giving my word meant. I gave her a similar vow that Vance gave you, and I’ve never broken it.”
Aimee’s eyes are as wide as mine. Mum sits next to Dad on the armrest and kisses his cheek.
“Being a youngster, being told who you’re to marry, being told no is tough. You girls have been through it and you know firsthand.” Mum looks at us both.
“You think I should do it then. Take his offer.” I focus on Dad.
“I want you to choose. Your mum and I will not help you with this decision. You’re on your own. However, whatever you do, we’ll never leave your side.”
The problem is I don’t know what to do and now I’m still unsure.
Well, fuck.
The Green Room is the most exclusive club in Belfast. Even though Michael and I arranged everything, it’s Dad who got our VIP room. Inside, the room is white walls, white furnishings, white everywhere. That’s the reason we’re all dressed in red.
