At that moment, the woman who had opened the front door for us came in and announced that dinner was ready. Alex took my hand and squeezed it as we went to the dining room. Warmth swamped me at the contact and I knew everything would be okay.
I was grateful because my training meant that I was at home in a dining room, no matter how posh. I could feel Mrs. Turner’s eyes on me. Judging me. Growing up underprivileged as I did, meant that I was highly tuned to other people’s reception when they met me.
I knew that she didn’t like me. I thought that maybe it was my background that had put her off. I’d believed from Alex’s story about how hardworking his parents were meant that they would admire how hard I had worked to get myself an education.
Instead, it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Charlotte
“Richard, Mary, tell us your good news,” Mrs. Turner said when we were on the main course.
The food, tender steak sirloin and a variety of vegetables, was superb and as I ate, the knots in my stomach started to relax.
Mary and Richard exchanged a warm look before she started speaking. “Richard and I are expecting a baby. I’m eight weeks along to be exact.”
There was silence at first as everyone assimilated that information and then a series of congratulations broke out. I listened as they talked about the baby. Mary’s face was flushed and she and Richard kept touching each other.
I’d always wanted children but I’d thought they would come when I was in my late thirties. My grand plan had been to concentrate on my career and then Alex had come into my life and all those plans had disintegrated.
Now, looking at Mary and Richard, I couldn’t wait for the moment that Alex and I would announce to his family that we were going to have a baby.
I was thankful that the conversation for the remainder of the evening revolved around Mary and Richard’s baby. After dinner, we returned to the living room and this time, Mary declined a glass of wine and I took one. I needed it after the grilling I’d endured.
“What are your plans for the weekend?” Mary asked Alex.
“I’m planning on taking Charlotte on a tour around the city. It’s her first time in New York and she’d love to see some of the touristy places.”
After my glass of wine, I felt exhausted and was glad when Mary and Richard stood up to leave. After saying goodbye to them, everyone was ready to retire for the night. We said goodnight with Mrs. Turner telling Alex to escort me to the guest room.
The guest room was on the second floor, along with Alex’s room and two other extra bedrooms. His parent’s suite was on the first floor. The size of the house was mind boggling. Alex showed me the room and kissed me goodnight.
Disappointment flooded me when he shut the door and left. I’d hoped to spend a few minutes with him talking. I wanted to know what his parents thought about me.
We would not be apart for long, I told myself and went to the adjoining bathroom for a quick shower. Afterwards, I slipped into a thick cozy bathrobe and returned to the bedroom. It was a gorgeous room, decorated with heavy drapes and a huge four poster bed as well as pretty rugs on the wooden floor.
As I was drying my hair, a gentle knock came on the door. My heart leaped. I should have known that Alex would come back. I called out for the visitor to enter.
The door swung open and Mrs. Turner stepped in. “Oh, you’re in the bathroom.”
I looked down at my bathrobe. It was pretty decent. “Its fine, come in.” I felt stupid saying that as I was in her house.
“I won’t take much of your time,” she said and came in and sat on the bed. She patted the space next to her and I sat down.
She smiled at me and hope soared in my chest. Maybe I’d misjudged her earlier. I’d done that in the past. Assumed that someone was judging me when in fact it was their normal modus operandi.
“First of all, I think that you’re a wonderful young woman and you have a great future ahead of you,” she said.
Warmth enveloped me. I could have hugged her at that moment.
“Just not for my son.”
The smile froze on my face. My ears rang with disbelief. I was sure that I’d heard wrong. She couldn’t have said that to me. I whipped my head to face her and she met my gaze unblinkingly.
“I’m sorry?” I said.
“You heard me. You and Alexander are from terribly different backgrounds and while I believe that someday, you’ll make a young man somewhere a good enough wife, I think you’re wrong for my son.” She spoke as if she was discussing the weather, not a subject that had a huge impact on my life.