An Engagement: A New Pioneers Short Story (2 page)

She scoffed. "You mean her little
family university?" It had been Lucy’s grandfather’s idea to buy
himself a little credibility by establishing a university in Boston
so people would look past the name and the origins
from...Louisiana.

"Be nice. Her father didn’t let her
go to Sarah Lawrence. Honestly, I think he wanted to make sure she
could keep an eye on Tom. And didn’t a certain someone graduate
from there too?"

Annabelle’s stomach turned at the
mention of Tom Bartolome. Stephen had ended his friendship with Tom
within two years at the university. Annabelle knew Stephen hadn’t
been a saint in college, but Tom was in a class by himself. He was
a guarantee of a bad date, among other things. Of course, Alex had
no such qualms, and as far as she could gather he still saw Tom
frequently.

"Remind me what you see in
her?"

"She has very intelligent things to
say."

"I see. You love her for her
mind?"

"Why do I put up with you
again?"

~~~

Jim invited Stephen to dinner two
nights later. Stephen was the perfect dinner guest and Gerald was
the perfect host. Stephen requested Annabelle’s hand in marriage
before dessert came out, and by coffee Gerald had agreed. Jim shook
Stephen’s hand. "Welcome to the family."

"Indeed," Gerald murmured as he
raised his coffee in toast. But Gerald wasn’t looking at his
daughter, he was looking at his son.

Annabelle looked over at her
brother, who smiled and sipped his own coffee. He didn’t see
anything wrong, and wasn’t he the smart one?
Stop worrying
,
she told herself.

~~~

Annabelle met Stephen for lunch
that weekend. When she arrived at the restaurant, Alex was standing
over him and they were sharing a laugh. There was a drink in
Stephen’s hand. Wasn’t there always when he was with
Alex?

What charm did everyone else see?
He was handsome, sure. He had a full head of perfectly combed dark
hair and dark eyes. He had a coloring that always looked healthy.
He should since he "worked out" so much. But there were other
handsome men in the world and not all of them were as
arrogant.

"Congratulations!" Alex said when
she came to the table before he kissed her on the cheek.

Annabelle felt the color rise to
her face. "Thank you, Alex."

"Alex was just confirming that
he’ll stand up for me at the wedding."

She thought she saw Alex’s eyes
twinkle. "Don’t worry, Annabelle. I promise to do a good job. I’m
sure Gerald will be grading my performance too."

That he would call her father by
his first name, as if he were that close to him..."I have full
faith in your ability to stand with Stephen and hand him a
ring."

Stephen stood up and took her hand.
"I knew you’d warm up eventually." He squeezed her hand to let her
know he was joking, then looked at Alex. "Okay, you, get out of
here. My bride-to-be and I have an appointment to whisper sweet
nothings in each other’s ears."

Alex nodded. "Please, don’t let me
interrupt. See you tomorrow," he said as he turned away. Then he
turned back. "Congratulations again, Annabelle."

She and Stephen sat down. "You just
told him?"

"No, actually, I told him a few
days ago." Before he’d had dinner with her family.

"And I suppose you made an
appointment to break the news to him gently?"

Stephen raised his eyebrows. "Not
exactly. Alex stopped by the house."

"What did he want?"

"If I tell you, do you promise not
to get upset?"

"I promise not to make a
scene."

Stephen waited a moment. "A loan."
Silence. "Anna, you’re turning white."

"A loan?" she finally managed.
"Daddy isn’t paying him enough to live in the lifestyle he’d like
to be accustomed to?"

"It wasn’t that kind of loan. It
was for an investment." Stephen said a number.

Annabelle blinked. "Was he
joking?"

"Anna, he’s never asked for
anything before
—
"

"Was he adding up everything he
could have asked for since you’ve known him? And then multiplying
by one hundred?"

"He wasn’t asking me."

"Your father?"

Stephen nodded. "There was a time
when my father could have made that investment, but those days are
gone. He wasn’t the best investor as it was, so I’m sure he
wouldn’t have seen the potential anyway."

Annabelle’s mind was racing. "You
think it’s a good investment?"

"Yes. Korean electronics, and Alex
has a contact."

"So you told him to ask someone
else."

Stephen closed his eyes. It was
only because she’d promised not to make a scene that she didn’t
throw her napkin on the table and leave. "Your father’s a better
judge of these things than I am. If he doesn’t think it’s a good
investment, he’ll say no."

Now she smiled. "If he doesn’t
think it’s a good investment, he’ll fire him. What a perfect
wedding present."

Stephen cleared his throat and took
a sip of water. "Would it be out of the question for you to ask
him?" He paused. "In such a way that he won’t fire him?"

Annabelle frowned. "For you, my
dear, I will agree to tell my father that Alex would very much like
to speak to him. I will not put in a word for him
—
good or bad."

Stephen winked. "You drive a hard
bargain."

Annabelle leaned in. "So you’ve
told me," she whispered.

~~~

Annabelle spent the next month
arranging her engagement party. In homage to her mother, the
pattern for the dress she picked out was something Grace Kelly
would have worn. For the color she chose a blue close to the color
of Stephen’s eyes, not that she would tell him that.

She was at the tailor for her final
fitting four days before the party. (She never understood why other
women would wait the day before their party when a little planning
would make sure that they wouldn’t risk a last-minute disaster.)
The tailor had taken up the hem just a little bit, and now it was
perfect.

She walked out of the changing room
to see Lucy Bartolome sitting in the waiting room.

Lucy stood up when she saw her.
"Hello, Annabelle," she said softly.

Lucy was tall, thin, blonde and
blue-eyed. She had creamy skin that never looked too pale from
ill-health or too ruddy from exertion. Of course her features were
fine and perfectly balanced on her face. She was as beautiful as a
Greek statue, and just as approachable.

"Hello, Lucy. Thank you for your
card. I’m sorry you won’t be able to make it to our party."
Annabelle was startled when Lucy seemed to flush. "Please don’t
worry about it
—
"

"I thought Jim told you. I’ll be
coming after all."

"Jim?"

Lucy smiled weakly. "Yes. He asked
me to come."

She knew he had. She also knew that
Lucy had said no. But then she’d said yes? "Of course. I’m glad you
can come after all. Is that why you’re here?"

"Yes. I had something flown in but
I needed to make a few adjustments."

"I’m sure you’ll look stunning in
it."

"Thank you. I’m sorry, I don’t mean
to keep you."

"What? Oh, of course. Please tell
your father I said hello." She didn’t mention Tom, and Lucy didn’t
register any offense.

"Of course." Lucy didn’t say one
word about Gerald.

~~~

Annabelle opened the door as soon
as she heard Jim outside. "Is there something you want to tell
me?"

"Can I come in first?"

Annabelle closed the door and
pointed to the living room. Jim joined her as soon as his coat was
off. "When were you going to tell me that you were bringing
Lucy?"

"She accepted two days ago. You’ve
been with Stephen or at appointments. I didn’t want to bother you,
but if an extra guest is a problem, I’m sorry for the
inconvenience."

"Didn’t you invite her four weeks
ago?"

"I did, and she said no. Then Dad
suggested I ask her again last week, and she accepted. Look, I’m as
surprised as you are."

"So you don’t know why she changed
her mind?"

"Can we pretend that it’s because
I’m so charming?"

Annabelle looked at her brother. He
was thin and tall too
—
one of the few men not
bowed in Lucy’s presence. But between the glasses and unusually
high forehead which gave the unfortunate impression of a receding
hairline, he looked about ten years older than he really was. He
was a smart, kind, decent man, too good but not good
enough.

"Charm’s overrated."

Jim sighed. "I’m sorry. I have no
idea why she accepted, but I’m glad she did. Sue me."

"Jimmy, just...be
careful."

"Around Lucy?"

"No. Around Dad."

~~~

Two days later, Stephen and
Annabelle were walking in the Public Gardens again. Stephen was
unusually quiet, giving one- or two-word answers and otherwise
remaining silent. Annabelle drew him to a bench by the pond to sit
down. "What’s wrong?"

"This is such a mess."

"What is?"

"The party."

"If you didn’t want a party, I wish
you would have said something a few weeks ago
—
"

"I’m happy to tell the world we’re
getting married. I just wish certain people didn’t have to be there
when we do."

Annabelle squeezed his hand.
"Stephen, your father has to come."

Stephen snorted. "I’m holding out
hope that he might have an attack of gout that day."

She suppressed a laugh but not a
smile. "And would that make you feel better?"

"No."

"You can handle my
father."

"Not if he makes any more guest
list changes. He called me this morning to ask if I
—
excuse me, ‘we’
—
would mind if
John and Tom came with Lucy."

"What?!?"

"Can we seat Dad at the same table
as the Bartolomes?"

"I don’t think Lucy deserves
that
." She thought for a moment. "Why wouldn’t my father ask
me?"

"Because he was afraid you’d say
no?"

"Very funny."

"Maybe he thought you had enough to
do?"

Annabelle thought of Jim and shook
her head. "Maybe he didn’t want me to ask why."

~~~

The party was two days
later.

Stephen and his father Michael
arrived fifteen minutes after the first guest. Stephen’s smile lit
up the room.

Annabelle had never been so happy.
"You approve of the dress?"

"I approve of my future
wife."

"As do I," Michael said and kissed
her on the cheek. Annabelle saw Stephen shudder. "Welcome to the
family, my dear."

Annabelle gave him her brightest
smile. "Thank you, Mister Abbot. I can’t wait."

Gerald was at Annabelle’s side a
moment later. "Michael!" he said. "So good to see you
again."

Annabelle looked at Stephen, who
raised his eyebrow as Gerald walked away with Michael. Sometimes
her father could be helpful.

Ten minutes later, Lucy, Tom and
John Bartolome walked in. So similar, yet so different: white
blonde John, ever so slightly stooped with age, but still one of
the tallest men in the room; Tom, very tall and almost as muscular
as Stephen, with light golden hair; and Lucy, creamy, blonde and
slender perfection.

"Congratulations, Stephen!" Tom
boomed before anyone could say anything. Tom stuck his hand in
Stephen’s chest, and Stephen shook it as if it were something he
didn’t want to touch for too long. Tom turned to Annabelle and
smiled. "Stephen, you always were a lucky son of a
—
"

John cut him off before he could
finish. "What my son means to say is congratulations."

Annabelle’s heart sank when she saw
Jim a second later. "Hello, Lucy."

Lucy nodded. "Hello,
Jim."

Gerald returned. "John, how good to
see you. Why don’t you join Michael and me and let these young
people speak freely?" As he and John walked away, Annabelle saw him
ever-so-slightly smile and nod at Jim. Jim glowed. Annabelle felt
the floor pull her feet deeper into it as Jim led Lucy
away.

And then there was Alex. "Tom! I
had no idea you were going to be here."

Tom shrugged. "Dad likes to make
sure I’ve got a babysitter, and Lucy wasn’t available."

Alex laughed, then turned to
Annabelle and Stephen. "You don’t mind if I take Tom away for a
moment, do you?" Before either could answer, Alex and Tom walked
away.