Page 32 of Love You, Mean It

“Don’t get worked up.” Ted raised his hands in mock defense. “I’m only trying to look out foryou. Once the honeymoon phase passes, it can be very difficult to build a life with someone you don’t have much in common with.”

“Just look at you and Mom, right?” Theo said, voice flat. “Though you really didn’t come from such different worlds, at least not at the start. It was only later that the club became such apartof us.” Ted’s jaw bulged.

“I’m simply warning you, as your father, against rushing intosomething that’s very difficult to extricate yourself from. I’d think the example of your mother and me would make you think long and hard about jumping into marriage too quickly. Forgive me, but if she’s really ‘the one,’ why is this the first time we’re meeting her?” He flung his knife my way, still not looking at me.

“Maybe because you’re never around,Ted.” Theo’s voice was even, but I could see a vein popping out on his temple. “Anyway, I wouldn’t dream of cutting your time at the lodge short. I know how much you hate missing out on the Stoweseason. And before that was your annual Maldives month. The directive at the office was ‘Do not disturb unless the ship’s sinking.’ I didn’t figure this qualified.” Theo’s lips formed the approximation of a smile, but his eyes flashed dangerously.

“Ourrelationship isn’t my concern, Theo. Proposing inside of four months…I suppose Ellie reallymusthave hidden charms.” Ted raised an eyebrow, tapping a finger on the rim of his wine glass. Silently, the housekeeper moved over to refill it.

“I like to think my sparkling wit and incredible pool skills are obvious,” I said, doing my best to pull a Marta and get this back on track but sensing that this Hail Mary was too late. “Anyway, we really aren’t rushing. We haven’t even set a date.” I could feel my pulse throbbing in my neck. My family could be a pain in the ass, but this smooth-smiling death by a thousand passive-aggressive jabs was nothing I’d ever encountered before.

“But you two are resolved to continue down this path.”

“I mean…yes?” I squinted at him.

“We’re engaged. The important thing is how much we care about each other,” Theo said.

“See, that’s where we disagree. Forgive me for saying so,MissGreco,but when someone likeyouwinds up with someone like my son, especially when the timing is recklessly fast, the first question that comes to mind is what you’re after.” Ted shrugged, aSomeone had to say itlook on his still handsome features. The smugness made me want to spit fire.

“I’mafterfinding someone who makes me happy.”

“Oh? And you just happened to find that with my son, who’s poised to inherit a multi-million-dollar company—”

“Ted,” Marta said, eyes widening.

“No, let’s spell it out. Clearly Ellie isn’t the type to pick up on subtext.”

“Jesus, Ted, what iswrongwith you?” Theo shook his head, blatant disbelief on his face.

“What’s wrong withyou?” Ted turned his ire on his son. “You’ve had serious relationships with several women who would fit into this family perfectly. For you to bring home this…thisbutcher,and tell me you’re planning tomarryher the first time she even deigns to meet us…Is it meant as some sort of rebellion? Or is this all just a result of that head injury?”

“For god’s sake, be civil. Be happy for us.”

“I’ll be happy for you when you give me a single reason to believe this is a good decision.” He turned to me, narrowing his eyes. “Or answer me this, why avoid meeting us sooner? You must have known we’d see through you, even if Theo was too infatuated by your…” His eyes raked over my body, the implication crystal clear.“Charms.”

Who the fuck did he think he was to talk to me that way, like I was some gold-digging slut, just because he’d managed to make a few dollars? I could almostfeelmy blood bursting into flame, the oil slick of Ted’s thinly veiled contempt catching all at once.

I slammed my knife and fork down, dimly registering Marta’s startled jump.

“Actually, avoiding you washisdecision,” I spat, disdain dripping off every word. “Frankly, he would have avoided this forever if I’d let him. Now I understand why.”

“I’m not sure I take your meaning.”

“Oh? So no one has ever told you what a pompous, self-impressedassholeyou are to your face?” I feigned confusion, eyes wide. “That surprises me. Since you clearly can’t turn it off for even a single fuckingdinnerwith yourson.”

Ted’s forehead clouded with anger.

“How dare you speak to me that way in my own home?”

“How dareyouspeak to your son’s fiancée like she’s some money-grubbing piece of trash? Fuck that, how dare you talk to Theo like he’s some idiotic child?”

“Ellie, I don’t need you to—”

If there was a warning in Theo’s tone, I was too far gone to hear it. I leaned forward, teeth bared.

“News flash, Ted, Theo and I get along precisely because I’mnothinglike the people you’d choose for him. And I love him because of who he is, not how much money he’s set to inherit. Not that you’d understand anything asquaintas that.” I lifted my wine glass and gestured around the room, on a roll now. “And by the way, congrats on Grandpa and Daddy getting you this house. They must have been so impressed with what a great job you did staying rich.”

“We’re done here.” Ted pushed back from the table abruptly, his face so red it was shading purple. “See yourselves out.”

---