Chapter 18 — Rather Kiss a Rattlesnake

It was almost seven o’clock. Stephanie’s feet hit the wide porch steps hard, as she stomped up the steps for dinner at Stratford Place. She opened the screen door, being careful to catch it before it slammed. Her father hated it when the screen door slammed. The door closed silently behind her, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Stephanie stepped into the spacious entrance hall with a sparkling chandelier overhead and shining French herringbone hardwood floors. A spring mix bouquet adorned a nineteenth-century table, and she leaned in to sniff as she passed by. Her heels clicked as she made her way to the dining room.

She started at Richard’s sudden appearance, holding a champagne flute. “Congratulations,” he said, stifling a grin as he handed her the flute. “I heard you got married today.”

She blushed crimson and took a long swallow of champagne. “That’s not funny, Richard.”

He laughed. “I think it is. A wedding, at a kitchen table by a sorceress. What was it, Steph? A Voo Doo Wedding? Do you have a little doll to stick pins in?” And then he grew deadly serious. “Don’t you think it’s time you grew up? It’s time you give up your silly childhood crushes.”

Stephanie was seething, but remained calm. His ability to distort the truth was unnerving. “I see you got it all out of my father. That didn’t take long.” Her eyes scanned him casually, wishing he wasn’t so good looking. He was wearing khakis and a pale-yellow shirt. His muscles bulged, and the way he was looking at her so cocky was disarming.

“There won’t be any babies,” Stephanie said, raising her chin. “You know I don’t want children. There are too many needy children in the world. I’d rather spend my life raising money to help them.”

“Strange that Thomas would want to marry you,” Richard said in an insolent tone. “How many does Thomas want? Eight—ten? That’s what the Amish do—make babies.”

She knew if she didn’t give him a number, he would fabricate one. “I would say that he would want six. He’s built a large home with several bedrooms.”

“Well, maybe he can find a nice little Amish girl to pop them out for him,” Richard quipped. “But it will not be you.”

“Dinner is almost ready,” Marguerite called out from the dining room.

“Be right there,” Richard answered with a Southern drawl. “Just need to give that sweet daughter of yours a little love.”

“Stop it, Richard,” Stephanie said under her breath. “I’d kiss a rattlesnake before I’d kiss you.”

He hissed and pulled her into his arms.

Wildly attracted to him, she was at an incredible disadvantage. Still, he irritated her with his banter. She steeled herself against his affection and turned her head when he tried to kiss her.

“I wish you were sweeter to me,” he retorted. “It would make things so much easier at family functions.”

“And I wish you weren’t such an asshole,” she said, pushing him away.

They had not heard Daniel come up behind them. “Must we start the evening quibbling?” he said, frowning.

Parker burst in the door carrying a bottle of red wine, obviously in a party mode. “Only the best for tonight.”

“There you are, Stephanie Anne,” Marsha said, busing Stephanie on the cheek. “I’ve been leaving messages for you all afternoon. I was going to bring you some flowers from my garden. I wasn’t sure if you wanted white or pink chrysanthemums, so I brought both.”

“Stephanie has plenty of flowers, mother,” Richard said sarcastically. “I send her roses every week. Not that she appreciates them. Sometimes, she won’t even answer my calls. Not even when I’m sitting in an airport in a blizzard.”

Stephanie thought him rude and offensive and ignored his comment with determined reticence.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Parker reached out and gave her a big hug. “Baby girl, have we got a surprise for you,” he said with a broad grin.

“Stop it, right now, Parker Cooper,” Marsha scolded. “We’re going to tell her after dinner. You never could save a surprise.”

“All right, all right,” Parker exclaimed, reaching for the wine to uncork. “We’ll sweeten the surprise with expensive wine.” He uncorked the wine, poured Stephanie a glass, and blurted. “Marsha has booked a Hawaiian cruise for your honeymoon. We’re going to cruise the blue Pacific, go to all the islands, and if we’re lucky, we’ll be grandparents in a few months.”

Her mouth agape, Stephanie tried to speak, but the words weren’t coming.

Parker mistook her shock for gratitude and hugged her again. “Don’t get all emotional, baby girl. You don’t need to thank me. We all need to get away from Brier Hill County.” His tone changed to serious, and he said, “It will be the best day of my life when I see you and Richard at the alter tying the knot. I’ll have the daughter that I’ve always wanted.”

“You are so sweet, Parker. I love you so much,” Stephanie said, kissing him on the cheek. She loved him, but she did not relish the idea of having the entire family go on her honeymoon with her. Unable to burst his bubble, she wouldn’t voice her objections.

Stephanie always wondered how Marguerite managed to make a gourmet dinner at such short notice. But there it was: a tenderloin with small potatoes, asparagus, a Caesar salad, and crescent rolls. The white tablecloth was starched lightly, and the centerpiece was yellow daffodils. Everything was perfect, as usual. They were wealthy, and could well afford a cook, but Marguerite took pride in cooking and baking for her family.

Parker poured the wine into crystal goblets. “A toast,” he said, “To Richard and Stephanie. Our future. Our family. Life is good.”

The glasses clinked.

“Eat, drink, and be merry,” Daniel said. “I’m so thankful for every day of my life that I get to see the two of you together.”

“Speaking of eating, I brought dessert,” Marsha said. “Your favorite, Stephanie Anne, lemon meringue pie.”

“Thank you,” Stephanie said. “I feel positively spoiled rotten tonight,”

“That’s because you are spoiled rotten, honey,” Daniel said with a broad grin. And then he added sheepishly, remembering their argument, “No offense.”

“And I’m going to keep her that way,” Richard said. “Whatever she wants.” He leaned over and kissed her softly on the mouth.

Stephanie wanted to be angry, but she couldn’t. The exorcism had changed her. What if the sorceress was right? What if she was cursed? What if there were no happy endings? That’s what she wanted—a happy ending. Richard loved her. And despite his shortcomings, she loved him. She told herself that she would put Thomas behind her once and for all. Her eyes glassed over with tears, and Marsha noticed.

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry,” Marsha said. “We’re going to be one big happy family. Forever.”

“What’s wrong, Steph?” Richard asked, concerned, as he wiped away her tear with a napkin. She bit her lip and didn’t answer. It was as if their parents had one common goal, and no matter what happened, they were not to be deterred. Even though they all knew a sorceress had married her and Thomas today, they were moving forward with the wedding plans and had even planned their honeymoon.

After dinner, they discussed the wedding plans and polished off the wine. Stephanie was subdued but didn’t object to the plans that Marguerite and Marsha had made. “The wedding will be outside in the gazebo, and I think we will need at least twelve large tents for five hundred people.”

“Do whatever you want,” Daniel said. “A girl only gets married once. And I want it to be something Stephanie will remember forever.” He took a long swallow of bourbon, clearly enjoying the burn. Then he turned his gaze on Stephanie. “There isn’t another man I would give my blessing to. I like that about you, Richard. You came to me and asked for my blessing, just like I went to Marguerite’s father. You’re an honorable man.

Stephanie smiled up at Richard. “When did you do this?”

“I asked him right after the dance at the Country Club. I knew that night I wanted to marry you. I didn’t see any reason to wait until you finished college. I’ve already made my way. There’s plenty of money. As I recall, I took him my financial statement.”

Daniel laughed. “You did. And I must say, I was more than impressed. But it isn’t about the money. Stephanie is set for life. I’m sure you’ll gain on her unless she starts investing soon.”

“I can help her with investments,” Richard said.

Stephanie swirled her wine. She was fiercely independent. It was true, she’d never had a job, but she’d helped her grandmother raise thousands for charity, and that was the life she and her grandmother had planned for her. She was determined to have the life that wanted, and not get caught up in Richard’s social life that would take her time away from college and charities. She wasn’t sure she felt comfortable with Richard dabbling with her money.

“You’re spending it as fast as you make it,” Parker said, refreshing their drinks.

Stephanie stiffened—she would keep her money separate and get a prenuptial agreement.

She breathed easier when Marsha said, “He’s joking.”

“Richard might have as much money as Stephanie,” Marguerite said, “but he’ll never have as much land. Now, can we stop talking about money and get on with the wedding plans?”

Stephanie had not missed the look of surprise that had crossed Richard’s face when Marguerite had mentioned the land. Her grandmother had told her never to sell the land. She knew that her grandmother had bought up every single parcel that had come available. It brought in a lot of money. She leased out several hundred acres to farmers for crops. And occasionally, she sold some lumber.

It surprised Stephanie when Daniel suggested Richard work out of the library at Brighton House tomorrow. “The wedding isn’t far off, son. I think you need to put more time into this relationship. You work too much.”

“Women are like roses,” Parker said. “If you tend to them lovingly, care for them, and keep all the weeds away, they’ll blossom, and you will enjoy their beauty. If you ignore them, love will die, and you’ll be left with thorns.”

“Flowers turn to the sun,” Marsha added with a bright smile.

Stephanie stared at Marguerite, noticing that she had not joined in the conversation. Her father loved his rose garden, but he didn’t love Marguerite, and she knew it: There was no affection; the marriage was for appearance’s sake, and they’d gone their separate ways years ago. Yet Marguerite was completely devoted to her father. It was sad because she’d overheard Marguerite say at bridge club that Daniel had once been madly in love with her.

Marguerite appeared to be in a daydream, and Daniel noticed. “A penny for your thoughts, Marguerite,” he said.”

“It’s nothing,” Marguerite said with a wistful smile. “Coffee, anyone?”

Stephanie wondered if Marguerite was reliving her wedding. Stephanie had seen the wedding pictures. They’d been married at Marguerite’s home on a Southern plantation that looked like Tara. There were enormous bunches of magnolias everywhere. Her wedding gown had a long train, and she looked radiant. Her father had looked happy and incredibly handsome in his tuxedo. At one time, Marguerite and her father had been in love. For a moment, Stephanie wondered if the same thing would happen to her. Would she fall out of love with Richard and have regrets?

Stephanie took a long swallow of wine. What was love all about, anyway? Her grandmother once told her that sometimes people who once loved each other deeply—fell out of love. When Stephanie asked her how something like that could happen, her grandmother had said, “It’s life, darling. We change just like the seasons. One day, we wake up and realize that the person we fell in love with on that lovely summer day isn’t the person we thought, and by winter, we realize we’re married to a stranger.” Then her grandmother had shrugged and said, “It’s no one’s fault.” Stephanie knew her grandmother had been happy in both marriages, and she wasn’t talking about herself, so she must have been talking about her father.

Stephanie forced a smile when she realized Marguerite was waiting for an answer. “No coffee for me. It will keep me awake.”

Richard squeezed her hand under the table. She squeezed it back. Romance was in the air. Her guard had been up, but she felt it dropping.

“Let’s go home,” Richard said, taking her by the arm and pulling her up. She fell into his arms, and they hugged. At that moment, she was gloriously happy.

It felt right that he should go home to Brighton House with her. After all, he was the only man who could measure up to her family’s standards and expectations. She loved him, but she wondered if she loved him enough. Did she love him enough to give up what she valued most? Her freedom.