Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

to be responsible, mature, and productive." He smiled,

"You bring the best out in me, the man out in the

boy."

"What's that have to do with all this. Thatcher?"

I asked, nodding at the papers.

"Everything. We will have a family someday,

maybe sooner than we think, and just as the family is

the foundation of society, the marriage is the core of

the family, the spine, and if it's not strong, protected,

the family is weaker. By reducing or eliminating

potential conflicts that could arise in the future, we

diminish and eliminate stress, and you know what

stress can do to people. You know better than anyone.

Willow, or as well as anyone could."

"I don't need all this preparation. I don't like

feeling like one of your clients. Thatcher," I said

sharply.

He winced and nodded.

"I'm sorry. It's just habit for me to talk this

way."

"What is it you want me to do?" I pursued.

Disappointment, like leaks in a boat, could threaten to

sink a love and relationship. I thought.

"Getting married means more than just

pledging to live together and consenting to have

sexual relations. Getting married is entering into a

serious legal relationship, Willow. It has diverse

consequences on your ownership of your money and

possessions, the way you raise your children, our

relationship to each other."