The Arrangement (New Hampshire Bears Novella) (6 page)

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.

All the women are in red dresses and the men are in black suits and red ties. There are bright red roses all over the room and pink and red wines to drink.

Since they picked for their hen and stag to be together, Ned and Aimee went small and only invited close family and friends.

Including Vance.

And he just walked into the room.

“Do you know what you’re going to do?” Aimee squeezes my hand as I take a large gulp of red wine.

“I don’t know. Tell me what to do.”

Aimee gives me a look as if I already know the answer she’s about to give.

“Fine, I’ll figure it out on my own.” I pick up another glass of wine for myself and one for Vance. I stroll over to him and hand him the glass.

“Wow you look…fucking fantastic.” He stares at me.

My dress is red, per the request of the party. The strapless top leaves my shoulders completely bare and stops mid-thigh. The shortness of the skirt and the lack of material on the top leaves me very exposed.

“You look great as well.” His black suit is tailored to perfection, and he paired it with a red dress shirt and matching tie.

“I’m glad you still let me come along.”

I nod.

“I’ll just stand over there out of your way since I know you’ll be busy being a wonderful host.” He gives me a sad smile and heads to the corner of the room.

There are no words I can say to him right now, and I do have more guests to greet. I want this to be a perfect night for Aimee. She and Ned seem to be floating around on a cloud.

I notice the appetizers are running out and wines are low, so I search for the manager when I overhear my name in a conversation near the hallway.

“I heard Vance got two girls preggers.”

“No, it’s Dacey who he knocked up. The parents are rushing to get them married.”

“You’re both wrong. Their arrangement broke up. Dacey is tainted. Someone needs to inform her she’s going to be a spinster.”

They laugh.

“Please, if she ended up a spinster it’d be a step up for her. Did you see her dress? Trying hard to fit in much?”

The tears burn my eyes, and I know if I give into them then those bastards win. I will not allow it. I turn from the hallway and see the manager I’d originally been looking for. After I inform him of the issues with the food and drinks, I step back into the VIP room and see Dad in the corner with Vance.

My first concern is Vance’s knees and pray Dad isn’t on the verge of taking him out. My second concern, when Vance seems to be intact, is the expression they’re both wearing. Dad looks concerned, patting Vance’s shoulder. Vance looks like a lost puppy, begging for a home or food.

I can’t just up and forgive him for his actions; he had intercourse and even dated while in Canada. While I sat at home every night and read books, went to school. And kept my nose clean. Had I seen attractive men in my life? Yes. Would I ever do anything? No, of course not.

Suddenly, bubbling in the pit of my stomach is rage, hurt, and I begin to seethe as I storm over to Vance and Dad.

“Darling, we were just speaking of you.”

“Wonderful,” I smart off. “I need to talk to you. Alone.” I glare at Vance, who nods and stands.

I lead the way out of the VIP lounge, through the Green Room’s thumping bass music and out into the streets of Belfast. I walk away from the waiting crowd outside the bar until I turn and slap Vance across the face.

My hand stings from the action. “I’m not going to apologize for it,” I firmly state.

“You have every right.” He rubs his now red cheek.

“I’m fucking mad at you. For the past eleven years, I’ve done nothing I wanted to do while you bed hopped and traveled and did what you love. All I did was sit home and wait by my mobile to speak to you. And each time, I hoped that call would be the one you said you cared for me.”

He starts to say something but I toss my hand up.

“If you say a single word right now, I’ll not be responsible for my actions.”

He closes his mouth.

“I prayed and hoped we would find our right path and we’d be in a real relationship. When you came home this time, I thought we’d reached the path. Instead, your mood differences are because of shagging whores and not me. When you kissed me, I really believed it. I believed you truly had feelings for me.

“And now people are gossiping about me. In there. When it isn’t anyone’s business, now I’m a laughingstock, and I didn’t do anything wrong.” I choke on a sob and tears spring from my eyes.

There’s no time in my life I’ve cried this much, but the last twenty-four hours it’s been a waterfall. Vance pulls a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and places it in my hand. I dab my eyes and cheeks.

“I’m sorry I hit you.” My bad-ass-no-apology attitude leaves. Now I’m back to my shy, meek usual self.

“I deserve much more.” He pauses. “Who was talking about you?”

I wave my hand toward the club. “Just people.”

“Is this the first time you yelled at anyone?” I clearly pick up his teasing tone.

“Besides Aimee, yes.”

“Don’t be mad at yourself. You can’t keep it all in.”

We fall into silence. The only noise is from the waiting line at the Green Room.

“Dacey, tell me what you want done and I’ll do it to fix this,” he softly begs.

“I don’t know. I absolutely don’t know.” I brush past him and go back to the club.

My life is more confusing than ever.

The hen and stag party began to wind down a few hours later and no one else said anything else about me, from what I can tell. Thankfully, Aimee doesn’t get smashed, and I can take her home without any additional assistance.

Mum stays with us and at dawn, or seems it to me, she’s waking us up to start our beauty process.

Time begins to fly, and I’m rushing around to make sure all is right and going smoothly. I don’t want Aimee to stress and Mum is running with me to double check.

Dad comes by limo to get us all to the church. Pride is written all over his face when he hugs us all. Being mad at him over what he told me yesterday is silly. He’s more than proved himself as a father and a husband.

Will Vance?

Can I trust him like Mum does Dad?

The church is perfectly decorated, just as Aimee planned it. The guests are filing in, and I catch a glance at Vance and his family. Last night, he didn’t go back to the Green Room with me. I figured he went home, and I wasn’t sure I’d see him today.