Chapter 12
“What’s this,” Nat asked curiously, reaching over to pull my necklace out from its hiding place.
“Nothing,” I said dismissively, quickly taking the chain out of her hand and tucking it back inside the neckline of my blouse before she could get a good look at what was hanging on it.
“Is it special?” she asked narrowing her eyes. “You never wear casual jewelry, I know you dislike wearing any jewelry at all and only do it on suffrage for formal occasions.”
“I just forgot to take it off,” I replied with forced casualness.
“If you say so,” she shrugged and resumed her reading.
Relieved, I did the same.
Suddenly I felt the chain around my neck yanked over my head as Natalie practically crowed, “Well who’s the dark horse? If I’m not mistaken, this is an engagement ring. Don’t tell me you and Richard finally made it official.”
“What did we finally make official?” Richard asked curiously, catching the last part of Nat’s statement as he joined us at our library table.
“This,” Nat said holding the ring up. “I must say, it’s pretty if you like old-fashioned, but I would have expected something more spectacular and showy from you.”
“Yours…?” Richard asked me quietly.
Stricken by the look on his face, all I could do was nod silently.
“Well looks like congratulations are in order,” he said with feigned heartiness, recovering quickly, the pain that had contorted his features a split second before only a fleeting memory. “Who’s the lucky guy?” the flippancy of his words belied the intensity of his gaze as he awaited my answer.
I shook my head, not ready to talk about it. Nat wasn’t giving up that easily. Thankfully, for Richard’s sake, she had missed his gamut of facial expressions, too busy appraising the value of the ring. She could be vicious when she chose, and I didn’t want Richard’s pain to become fuel for her spiteful barbs.
Richard thinks he’s in love with me, I thought in amazement. How could I have missed that?
“You may as well give it up now,” Nat said waspishly. “Your secret has been blown.”
“Please give me my ring.”
“Not until you spill it.”
“I’ll tell you,” I began reluctantly, not seeing any other option, “but you both have to promise not to tell anyone. We haven’t told my parents yet.”
“Why?” Richard’s eyes narrowed. “Are you planning to elope?”
“No…”
“Oh this is rich,” Nat interrupted with glee, “Perfect little Allison Tate marrying someone of whom the Tates won’t approve. That’s why you haven’t told them yet, isn’t it?” she taunted.
“We will soon.”
“Who is it?” Richard asked again.
“I’d rather wait until we tell my parents,” my eyes pleaded with him to understand.
“And when will that be,” Nat snorted, “When hell freezes over?”
“Soon,” I replied evasively.
“Soon,” she mimicked. “Well whoever he is he better be filthy rich or else your parents are going to freak.”
Gathering my books together, I held my hand out for the ring and reluctantly Nat complied.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Richard offered.
“But you just got here,” Nat protested. “You can’t desert me, too. I have a marketing test tomorrow and I need someone to grill me.”
“You should have thought of that before alienating the only nice person at the table,” Richard said callously. “Call your little lap dog,” he threw over his shoulder as he followed me to the exit.
“She’s too stupid to be any help,” I heard Nat mutter angrily as we left.
“It’s Wilson isn’t it,” Richard tackled me as soon as we were outside.
“How…?” I stopped myself mid-question.
“I’m not stupid, Allison,” Richard said in disgust. “I saw the way you looked at each at the Christmas concert.”
Taking my hand, he led me over to the group of trees where James and I had spent much of our time during the Christmas holidays.
“It was pretty obvious you were attracted to him.”
That would explain Richard’s rudeness that night. I had been so worried about Nat noticing that I hadn’t given Richard a second thought.
“You’ve been seeing each other since then, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” I whispered refusing to meet his eyes.
“Do you love him?” he asked softly.
I jerked my head up, bewildered by his change of tone.
“I do.”
“Nothing I say or do will make any difference at all, will it?”
“I’m sorry,” I said regretfully, the pain in my eyes reflecting the pain in his. “I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know…” I trailed off; putting it into words would only make it seem worse somehow.
“That I was in love with you,” Richard finished for me. “It’s okay,” he shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ll live.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“I’d be no bargain as a husband,” he said in self-deprecation, “As much as I hate to admit it, Wilson is definitely a better proposition.”
He reached up and touched my cheek softly.
“Richard…”
“Let it go,” Richard said abruptly, dropping his hand. Deliberately changing the tone of the conversation, he asked briskly, “When do you plan to tell your parents?”
“James wanted to do it right away, but I convinced him to wait.”
“They won’t be pleased,” Richard agreed. “Our parental units certainly dislike being thwarted, especially by their children. Wilson seems to be a pretty straightforward type of guy—he made no bones about rejecting Natalie—I don’t imagine he’ll want to wait long to approach your parents.”
“He thinks he can convince them to accept him.”
“While you and I both know that isn’t going to happen,” Richard nodded. “Do you have a backup plan? Eloping sounds like your only option.”
“I mentioned that, but James doesn’t want to do it that way.”
“When are you planning to get married?” Richard asked carefully concealing any pain he felt at the question.
“This summer…after I graduate.”
“You’re graduating this semester?”
I nodded, “I’ve started applying for teaching positions here in Austin for next fall.”
Riddled with guilt, I decided to be honest; I felt I owed him that much.
“Teaching?” he paused for a second to consider that, “You know I can see you in a classroom full of girls teaching them how to cook and stuff,” he smiled at the thought.
“It’s more than just cooking,” I said reproachfully and we both laughed. He was forever teasing me about getting a degree in cooking. “You won’t tell anyone will you?”
What if he decides to try to stop me, I thought berating myself for being so stupid, he has more to gain than anyone else does.
Seeing the panic in my eyes, Richard calmly took me in his arms and pulled me close. “I realize I haven’t given you much reason to trust me or even like me over the years,” he said gently, “but I would never hurt you like that.” Leaning back to look into my eyes he added, “You’re a nice person, Allison Tate, much better than I deserve. I’m just fortunate that you forgave me for being such a jerk after the concert. Put it down to uncontrollable jealousy.” Releasing me, he cleared his throat and asked, “So do you have any other ideas? Unlike me, it doesn’t sound like Wilson is the type to go for the ‘sneaking around’ option.”
“My only hope now is that Mrs. Fowlkes can persuade him that my parents are dangerous,” I answered shaking my head. “He thinks I’m exaggerating. All I have is circumstantial evidence.”
“The Fowlkes…?” Richard asked in surprise, “How are they involved?”
??
?His mother works for the Fowlkes,” I informed him, “And I know they don’t like my parents, although I’m not exactly sure why. They must know something concrete, because after getting to know Mrs. Fowlkes I can’t believe they would have switched law firms after my grandfather died without a good reason. James will have to believe them, won’t he?”
“I hope so for your sake,” Richard said skeptically. “I truly hope so.”