The Wedding Deal (14 page)

“I thought you understood…….you are my wife and hopefully very soon the mother of my children, your place is at home with them, not gallivanting all over town running a dance studio”

Tessa had felt the hairs on her neck bristle as she had held his look, hers every bit as determined.

“No…….I do not recall having any such conversation, and neither did I remember you making any part of our wedding vows that I was required to move back fifty years. I think I am more than capable of looking after children and running my studio”

“No” he had bitten out as though talking to a small child.

“If you want to keep it fine, but you can hire a manager to run it for you. Your place is here”

Tessa could hardly talk as she had glared back at him, the anger shining so brightly out from her lovely eyes.

“No?……no?……..I am not some kind of puppy for you to train, and I will not have you tell me what I can and cannot do”

He had moved to grab his suit jacket before swinging back to face Tessa, his expression dark with the anger on it.

“What is it with women, why do they think they can do it all, juggling family and a career, because the only people who end up getting hurt are the children. My mother thought she could do it and she couldn’t, so Tessa I don’t give a damn what you think, you will be giving up running the studio and you WILL be staying here with our children”

As she moved forward to continue arguing, he had grabbed his briefcase and moved out of the bedroom door.

“Don’t wait up; this meeting will take most of the day and night, now I’m late for Clara as it is. Goodbye Tessa”

The mention of the other woman’s name had knocked all the fight from her, bringing with it tears which stung her already tired eyes as they streamed down her cheeks. She had moved back to the bed flinging herself onto it as the images of the two had once more flooded her, the pain tearing at her once more, only this time accompanied by anger. It was OK for his mistress to pursue a career, to have that freedom, but not her, not his newest accessory. The anger had consumed her, as she had kicked the mattress with her feet, for the first time allowing herself to be overcome with the unjustness of her situation. To save Andrew she had given up everything, including the one thing she never thought to be in jeopardy, her heart.

For several minutes she had lain there, wallowing in self pity, before images had pushed their way through to her angry mind. Images of them on the dock as they had enjoyed the picnic he had planned. Images of the hurt in his eyes as he had told her of his mother and of growing up without her sacrificed to her career. With each one her anger had subsided a little more until she was calm, the hurt melted away as her heart had reached out to him, reached out to that lonely sad little boy.

But she was not like that, her dance studio was part of who she was, it was her way of giving something back to so many children, and Tessa loved children, and she would love their children she knew. She would love them more than anything else in the world.

Sitting up she had wiped away the tears before with determination she had placed a call to her general contractor to meet her at the studio. She would not give up on her dream; somehow she would prove to him that she could find the right balance.

Tessa had spent the rest of the day with the contractor, discussing the repairs and upgrades needed to her dance school. She had been surprised to see just how extensive the list was, groaning softly, knowing that it would take a big chunk of her savings. The two had come up with a work schedule which would ensure that all the work could be carried out prior to the date of opening, Tessa feeling sad that that day might never come for her.

For the rest of the evening she had sat at her computer, each year she would personally design all of the flyers for the studio, and she had pressed on, though not able to send the details to the printing company as she normally would. She had worked late, stopping only to have dinner with Mrs Lowe who had laughed at her, seeing her curled up on one of the comfortable settees.

“You are as bad as Alexis” she had chuckled “The two of you are workaholics”

Tessa had grinned asking the woman for her advice on her designs, pleased when she had admired them.

“You have a great eye Tessa” she had finally said, before once more leaving the younger woman alone as she had moved back to her small suite of rooms for the evening, wishing her a good night.

She had continued working on her schedules for the following year. There were many emails to respond to with requests for children to join the school, and she had replied with the usual attachments for official entry. Her heart had sank at the thought that she might never be starting that year, her eye constantly looking at the clock, as it had slowly ticked away the hours.

At nearly 11 she had heard the door open, quickly putting down her computer, trying not to wonder where he had been that late, or more importantly who he had been with. As she had appeared from the living room, Alexis had looked surprised to still see her up.

“I thought you would be in bed by now” he had said softly, his body stiffening with expectancy of that morning’s argument. She had moved towards him shaking her head softly.

“No…..I thought we might talk”

He had turned to fully face her, his eyes hard.

“What did you do today Tessa” he had asked gently but his tone holding a hint of steel.

She had wrung her hands nervously together.

“You know what I did” she had finally answered, seeing the anger instantly fill his handsome features, as he had turned to move up the stairs.

“Then there is nothing to talk about” he had thrown back at her, as she had rushed over to the staircase.

“No matter what Alexis, the repairs have to be made………even if it means selling up”

Her words had stopped him in his tracks, as he had turned back to her.

“So you are selling up?” his tone now softer.

She however, had looked back at him, her eyes imploring as his look had once more hardened.

“Hear me out Alexis…” she had begun, as he had given a snort of annoyance, once more moving up the stairs.

“Give me one moment” she had continued.

“Let me say two things, and if you still feel the same way….then I will sell the studio”

She could see, as he had stopped, stood still, his hand clenched tightly on the wooden balustrade, before turning slowly around and moving back down the stairs, his eyes holding hers.

“OK, although I can’t think of anything that would change my mind Tessa”

Moving past her to the living room and sitting on one of the settees.

To his surprise she had sat beside him tucking her feet up under her body, her face full of concentration.

“I understand how you feel Alexis” she had began as he had looked disbelievingly at her, his mouth opening but stopped as she had looked pleadingly at him once more.

“I know that you worry that our children will be left to grow up alone like you” seeing the look of surprise in his eyes.

“But I am not like that Alexis, when we have children they will be the most important people in my life…I think you know that and I think it is why you wanted so badly to marry me”

“Tessa….” he had begun as she had held her hand up to stop him.

“You sensed that in me because of the person I am Alexis, but a large part of me is also my school. Since I was a little girl I always had a dream to open dance schools because I knew I would be good at it, and I worked hard and saved hard to be able to do it. It was my dream.”

She had seen the discomfort enter his expression.

“When you told me about your mother, one thing shone through so clearly…….that you loved her”

She had seen as he had nodded.

“I did, I still do, and I feel as though I missed so much time with her Tessa, something I do not want our children to face”

She had nodded gently.

“I know…..I know” she had said softly.

“But look at you Alexis, you are a good man. You are respected by everybody who knows you, and you have made a success of yourself, and I think that that is thanks to your mother. She was the greatest example any boy could have, and I suspect you are very like her”

She could see as he had nodded softly as she had continued.

“My grandfather grew up with a stay at home mother, and he had nothing but contempt for her. She had a promising career Alexis and gave it all up for her husband who felt that a woman’s place was in the home, and I think part of her always resented him for that, and I guess that he picked up on that and thought her weak”

“I would never let our children…….” he had cried out, as she had looked sadly back at him.

“I don’t ever want to resent you Alexis…………nor do I want to make our children think that their mother is weak for giving up on her dreams”

He had sighed softly, his face thoughtful.

“One final thing” she had spoke gently.

“If we have a daughter……when she marries will you expect her to give up her career for the sake of bringing up a family…Is that the example you want me to be to our daughter…because if it is then I will do as you want and sell the dance school”

Finally she had grown silent, watching him nervously, as he had looked at his hands held together before him as he hunched forward, concentrating thoughtfully, before eventually looking over at her.

“I don’t want you to ever resent me Tessa”

She had nodded back, their eyes locking.

“I know”

“I guess I didn’t realise how important your career was to you”

Tessa had shaken her head softly.

“It was always my dream to set up dance studios……….to give kids from all backgrounds a chance to dance……….because no matter what happened when I was growing up……….dancing always got me through, and Alexis there are a lot of kids who need the same thing in their lives”

He could see the hurt in her eyes as she spoke. Remembering the many stories of her mother he had heard and knowing what kind of a man her grandfather to be understanding that dance had been her escape growing up. His hands had moved forward to take hers, as she had given a tremulous smile.

“But no matter what Alexis……….my children will always come first……..always”

With a small groan he had pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry Tessa; I wanted to give you everything to make you happy, to give our children everything I didn’t have”

She had put her arms around his neck holding him just as hard, his embrace so wonderful to her.

“They will have the most important thing that you did not have” she had whispered softly “They will have the best father in the world”

At that he had pulled back slightly to look into her lovely face, that face so full of honesty, his hand moving to gently stroke her cheek, before his mouth had sought hers, kissing her with the passion that filled him. She had returned the kiss, feeling as he had moved to scoop her into his arms moving slowly with her up to their bedroom.

That night they had made love slowly and languorously, both needing to feel the other so badly as they had held each other tightly. Finally sleep had taken them both, each wrapped tightly in the embrace of the other.

The next morning she had woken, stretching gently, reaching out for him, her hands falling on the empty mattress beside her. Her eyes had opened sharply, as she had felt the disappointment of his not being there, wishing that he could hold her again. As she had lain back, she had smiled softly remembering the previous night, knowing that he had accepted that her school was part of her. That it was important to him that she be happy, had made the warm love so deep inside her glow even hotter, and she had sighed contentedly.

Rising, she had finally seen the note on the pillow, making her smile broadly. Lifting it she had read the note

Tessa

I have a surprise for you. I will pick you up at three o’clock 

Alexis

With that she had grabbed her pillow, using it to stifle the happy giggle that had escaped her, feeling so wonderfully in love.

At 3 on the dot, he had walked through the door, smiling broadly seeing her excitedly waiting for him.

“Oh my God……..you had me fooled………you can keep an appointment” she had giggled remembering the first night she had deliberately arrived at his house half an hour late, before running over and throwing herself into his waiting arms

“OK……..what is the surprise?” she had cried her eyes shining.

He however, had shaken his head, his so full of mischief.

“Nope………..this you have to see”

And with that he had grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the door to his waiting car. They had then driven ten minutes away from their home, moving into the busier side of the area. Despite every effort he had remained silent finally throwing up his hands as she had excitedly kept asking where they were going. Laughing he had shaken his head.

“You are hopeless………..wait”

Just as his car had swung into a lot, pulling into one of the many car spaces adjacent to a rundown building. He had then looked at her grinning, moving around to open her door, as she had looked around in bemusement.

“Why are we here?” her voice questioning, as he had reached into the back of the car, pulling large rolled up sheets from his briefcase before grabbing her hand and moving to the front of the building.

“You said last night that your dream was to open many studios” he had looked at her for confirmation as she had nodded still not understanding what was going on.

“Well what about this building for your second school”

Tessa had gasped, jumping round to look at the building before her. She could see how perfect the size would be, it’s ideal position with the parking so rare in that part of town, before turning back to him, trying not to show her disappointment.

“It would be wonderful Alexis………but I could never afford this…….the renovations for my studio were more than I expected. She had seen as he had smiled.

“So it is a perfect option”

She had conceded a small nod, before sighing.

“but like I said……….”