She made my world go round. She brought joy into my life and made me whole. She brought out the maleness in me and made me want to be a better man for her.
“I was afraid it would come to that. Son, we’re not giving you a choice. You must give her up,” he said his tone cold.
I knew that side of him. I’d seen him in the courtroom. But he was fighting love, and there was no way I was giving up my love. I couldn’t imagine anyone else I would have wanted to marry and have a family with. Charlotte was it for me. The one and only love of my life.
“If you don’t, we’ll cut off your allowance and—”
“What?”
“That’s not all,” he said in a cold voice. “The offer to come work in the law firm will be withdrawn.”
I stared at him, stunned. “You don’t mean that?”
He nodded. “I do. Think about it very carefully and let me know your decision in the morning.” He strode out of the room.
My father was ruthless, but threatening to cut off my allowance and withdrawing my job? The one job I’d waited for all my life. I got up and paced the room, growing angrier by the second.
They were pushing me against the wall so that I would dump Charlotte. That wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t a helpless little boy. I was a grown man and could take care of myself and mine.
By the time I left the study twenty minutes later I’d made a decision. And the first thing I did when I returned to my room was to book Charlotte and me seats on a flight to Las Vegas.
Alex
Considering the things that were waiting for me in the morning, I had a pretty restful night. I woke up pumped and ready to start my life with Charlotte. Sure, I had to rethink my grand plan, but I was young and determined and I was going to be a success. With or without my father.
I showered and dressed, packed my stuff, and carried my bag to Charlotte’s door and knocked. She called for me to enter. I found her fully dressed and seated on the bed and I knew that she’d had a visit from my mother.
“Good morning,” I said cheerfully as if everything was perfect, even though my heart ached at the sight of her looking so defeated. I kissed her cheek and she summoned a smile. “I’m glad you’re dressed. We’re about to leave. We’re going to Las Vegas.”
Her eyes widened. “What? What’s going on?”
“In my eagerness to marry the love of my life, I skipped a very important step.” I went down on one knee and took her hands. “Charlotte Evans, from the first day I saw you dozing on the train and then rushing out like your life was in danger, I fell in love with you. You’ve made me happier than I deserve to be and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to give you even half of what you give me. I love you Charlotte. Will you be my wife?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, but—”
I placed a finger on her lips. “No buts.”
She nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Let’s go. We’ll be late for our flight.”
She packed her bag and in minutes we were walking down the stairs. I found my parents as well as Mary and Richard in the living room. No one looked surprised to see us with our bags.
Mary was the first to speak. “Don’t be a fool Alex,” she said. “You’re throwing away everything you’ve worked hard for. And for what?”
“If you ever hope that we’ll speak again, I suggest you think very carefully before you speak,” I said, grinding my teeth.
“She means well,” Richard said. “We all do.”
I didn’t bother to answer. “Charlotte and I are headed to Las Vegas. In exactly six hours, she and I will be husband and wife.”
“You’re throwing away your life Alexander,” my mother said.
“At least it will be my decision,” I said. I stared at my father and keeping Charlotte’s hand in mine, we walked out of the home I had grown up in.
Charlotte was teary in the cab on the way to the airport. Only when we were airborne did she start talking. I’d expected it. Having grown up without the security of a family, she valued families above all else. She once confided in me how she looked forward to being part of a family.
Then my family rejected her. That tore my insides but there was nothing I could do to spare Charlotte. All I could do was reassure her that we were going to be a family.
“I don’t know if we should do this Alex,” she said.
Even if I’d been expecting her to say something of that nature, hearing the words caused panic to rise up my throat. What if I couldn’t convince her that I had made the right decision? That no one, not even family had a right to come between two people who loved each other.