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Awkward Marriage 30
Jake hid his laughter as Tim blanched. “So, what are your intentions with Sue?” He took another bite and waited for Tim to answer. Tim still hadn’t swallowed the food. He picked up the cup of hot chocolate to wash down the food in his mouth but couldn’t seem to swallow that either. “Don’t you like it? If you marry her, you’ll have to eat this stuff all the time. She prides herself on her ability to cook a good meal.” He finally swallowed it, his eyes tearing up in the process. He took a deep breath and pushed the plate away. “I must be frank with you. This would condemn a restaurant.” Jake pretended to look offended. “She put a lot of hard work into this.” Sadly, that was probably true. She tried to make a tasty meal but couldn’t seem to pull it off. “I do have a personal chef, and my job involves a lot of eating out. I suppose one flaw in a woman is manageable.” “Oh, she insists on cooking all the time. She prides herself on her work.” “Certainly, s
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For the first time in her life, Sue spent considerable time getting dressed for Friday night. She knew that appearances were important to Jake, and she decided she would do her part to look as good as possible for the dinner and dance. She decided to wear a hunter green long sleeve dress with a heart shaped neckline. It would show a slight amount of cleavage but there was little she could do to help that since she couldn’t change her bust size. She wore the diamond necklace and earrings that Jake had given her and slipped on her hunter green high heeled shoes. She brushed her hair so that it fell in soft curls around her shoulders. She finally decided to pull the sides of it back with a hunter green barrette so that her earrings would show. She examined her reflection. Maybe I am as pretty as Jake claims. When she was ready, she went to the den since he spent most of his free time sitting at his desk. He was doing more paperwork. He spends so much time working. When does
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Jake sat back down. “I can appreciate your fear of being controlled when we got married.” She tried to relax but it was difficult. “Try not to let him get to you, Sue. Men like that aren’t worth the effort. Just be glad he married Belinda instead of you.” “I wouldn’t have married him if he was the only one in town who could pay off my father’s debt. Even Mr. York was a better catch.” “And where do I fit on that list?” He was smiling again. “At the very top. I couldn’t have done better,” she softly admitted, staring at her plate. “Thank you for standing up for me. It was nice to have someone defend me for a change.” “You always had to defend yourself?” She nodded and looked at him. “Jeremiah tried to defend me but he was five years younger so no one paid him any mind.” “So that’s how you got to be bold.” “Sometimes you do what you have to do.” “Well, I will do what I can.” She didn’t expect to be so touched by the reality that he would defend
Awkward Marriage 33
ake spent the weekend setting things up in his bank. He used his pent up frustrations for energy. He couldn’t believe the nerve of the bachelors in town who kept asking Sue to dance on Friday night. He would try to get back to her when someone came up to him to discuss his bank. Had it not been for the fact that she declined most of the invitations to dance so she could talk to some of the wives, he would have picked her up and dragged her home. Fortunately, she seemed to be blissfully unaware of their intentions. Why didn’t the men take the time to notice her before he married her? It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t get to her first. He tried not to let his sour mood show when a box of chocolates and flowers from an Ethan Bower arrived at his house on Sunday afternoon shortly after he and Sue came home from church. Since Sue was in the den reading, he was able to throw them out before she discovered them. He immediately added Ethan Bower to his list. He was able to cro
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“I did. Good morning, Mr. Mitchell,” he politely stated as he held out his hand. Jake crossed his arms. “Is it really a good morning, Mr. Cline?” He seemed baffled as he put his hand down. “It is for me.” “Daddy, can we go look at books now?” his daughter asked. He turned to talk to her. “Jake, what’s wrong with your manners?” Sue whispered so Donald wouldn’t overhear. “My manners?” he whispered back. “What are you doing being so friendly to him? Have you no consideration for other’s feelings?” “I don’t see what the problem is. Donald came by to announce his engagement to Martha Howell, and he brought my niece by so I could see her. I don’t get to see her very much since Emma died.” Jake immediately felt his anger fade. “Oh. He was your brother-in-law.” “Yes. What did you think he was?” At least I can safely cross him off the list. “I’m sorry.” Turning to Donald, he said, “Forgive me, Mr. Cline. I thought you were makin
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The next day, they took the train to Richmond. He was glad she could join him. His trips were usually boring, though he spent most of his time reading. It was nicer to have her to talk to. She hadn’t been on a train before and he grinned at her enthusiasm for the experience. With her, this was a new world. She was used to the farm and the library, but outside of that, her life had been limited. What would it be like to take her to Europe? What would she think of seeing Greece in person? They reached Richmond in good time, and he took her to lunch before his business meeting at Brother’s Bank. He didn’t feel like parting from her but reminded himself that he would see her in a couple of hours. “I’ll be at the library. Do you want me to come back here or will you stop by to get me?” she asked him. “Why don’t you do some shopping before you read a book? Buy yourself something you like.” “Well, I can’t really think of anything to get.” “Is there nothing yo
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Sue enjoyed the symphony. The music reminded her of different stories she had read, so while the music played, her mind took her to one of the many books she was familiar with. Jake must have noticed her pleasure, for he rested his hand on hers and smiled at her during the performance. She blushed at his action. She didn’t understand why he was being so affectionate but found that she liked it. On the train ride home, he squeezed her hand. “What did you think? Did you enjoy the symphony?” “Yes,” she replied, acutely aware of the feel of his strong hand around her smaller one. “It was a thrilling experience. I can see why you go to them as often as you do.” “I must admit that it was much better with you there.” She smiled. “I’m glad you took me along. The Sunday before we got married, I visited Belinda, and she made marriage sound dreadful for a woman. She made it sound like the husband was allowed to go out and do whatever he wished while his wife had to stay home and plan dinner
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The pretty twenty-two year old nodded and walked to the front of the desk. “May I be of assistance to you gentlemen?” Ben took a good look at her and smiled. “Actually, yes. Would you help me find a book I’ve been looking for?” She smiled back. “What is the book called?” “I’m not sure but it is about two young star-crossed lovers whose parents are enemies, so they get married without their parents knowing but it all ends in tragedy when both die.” “Are you talking about William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?” Sue asked in disbelief. Of all people, Ben York didn’t strike her as a literary enthusiast, much less a romantic. “Yes, that’s the book,” he replied. Turning to Miss Stallone, he asked, “Can you help me find it?” She giggled. “I know where the book is.” He eagerly followed her as she went to the appropriate bookshelf. “Well, it looks like I have you all to myself,” Ethan said. “I’ll help you with those books if you’d like.” “I have to be honest with you, Mr.
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