Page 87 of The Perils of Pretending
Attend galas, fundraising events, and award ceremonies with Dorian as required by his job
Be the chairperson for Dorian’s charity
The wedding shall take place no later than one year from the date on the contract. Divorce will never be an option by either party stated above. One child will have Ashcombe as their middle name. Alaska will remain their home for the entirety of their marriage. Attendance to monthly dinners with the Ashcombe family as set forth by Alice Ashcombe required.
The paper shakes in my hand. My blood boils in my veins. I stand, anger rising in me. “I don’t even get to choose how many children I want? When I get married? Where I live? When and if we want to visit you? If Dorian cheats, or abuses me, I’m never allowed to divorce him?”
I glance over the conditions again, reading a few more details. “Give me an ‘allowance’? What am I, eight? I own my own company! I make a livable wage on my own! You think you can buy me? That your money is what I’m after? None of us”—I stab a finger in Brody’s direction, then Mom’s, then at myself—“wants your wealth. My dad didn’t either! Why do you think he moved away and never came back? You control us like we’re your puppets. Guess what? We’re not!”
Grandma’s face turns as red as a strawberry. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if your father had gone into the family business to begin with! He’d still be alive if he’d listened to me! Don’t throw your life away like he did.”
Mom stands, flaring her nostrils, and shaking her head. “You’ve gone too far, Alice.” Mom seethes. “You don’t get to choose how my daughter lives her life.”
“It’s a good offer, Sadie,” Dorian says. “We’d be comfortable. Happy.”
My eyes narrow into slits. How can he say that? He doesn’t know me and I don’t want to know him. He never did say what Grandma’s giving him in exchange for him selling his opportunity for true love. Is Grandma the one paying for my monthly stipend, home, and trust fund for my future children? It doesn’t even matter. My stomach contracts. I think I’m going to be sick. “No.” I shake my head. “We wouldn’t. Because my life isn’t in Alaska living as my grandma’s pawn. It’s not with you.”
“You’re just as stubborn as your father!” Grandma smacks the couch cushion. “Why won’t you even consider the life you’re being offered? The financial stability?”
I shake my head. I am financially secure.
Grandma huffs. “So you’re saying no to the contract? I suspected you might. You may reconsider once you read this.”
Grandma hands me a new contract. My jaw drops open. This one states I will pay Grandma fifteen thousand dollars to cover Max’s lodging and activities.
She was the one who offered to pay for him at the airport! It would take my entire bank account to pay this, but I could. If I wanted to. But I don’t. “You’re seriously making this all about money? How do you come out on top, here? Either I lose my self-respect by letting you control me or I lose my life savings to wash myself clean of you. No matter the outcome, you and I will never have a real, natural relationship. It’s all about control and money with you. It’s insane!”
Grandma raises her chin in the air. “You’re the one making it about money.”
She’s the most absurd woman in the world. I hold both contracts up, one in each hand. Striding over to the fireplace, I toss all the papers into the fire. “Let me show you how to make a good agreement with someone: You offer to keep them safe, protect them, offer them your ear, and you earn their love and respect. See how there’s no money in that agreement?”
Grandma folds her arms across her chest, but doesn’t say anything.
I point between Max and me. “Do you know we concocted a plan to pretend to date just to keep you and Dorian away from me? Hewasn’tplanning on coming here, but I called him and asked him to help keep me safe because Dorian wouldn’t take no for an answer. That’s the kind of man you want me to marry? Someone who doesn’t respect women and boundaries? It doesn’t matter how much money you promise, my life is not for sale and I won’t pay you back for the gift you offered to Max at the airport!”
Grandma lifts her chin. She pulls her shirtsleeves down on her wrist. “I know Dorian’s family. He’s a good man and wouldn’t lie like you did. What were youthinkingfaking a relationship? And I have more copies of both contracts. You will choose and sign one.”
Max scoffs. “He’s a scumbag.”
“You think Dorian’s a good guy?” Brody asks like Grandma’s crazy. Which she is.
I can’t even with this woman. Doesn’t she see why I did it? “I refuse to sign either one. And you want to know who’s a good man? Max. The second I called him, he came. Not because I bribed or paid him. He showed up because that’s what friends do. He hasn't left my side since. He’s made sureyourchoice for my spouse didn’t touch me or ruin my vacation.”
I point to Max. “The funny thing is, I NEVER would have picked Max on my own because he works at a school like Dad did and I thought I couldn’t handle the fear of him never coming home. But I have you to thank for being a psychotic controlling Grandma, because in the process of Max helping me fight off the guyyouchose, I fell for him.” I point to Max. “He’s the man I should be with because that’s who my heart wants,notmy wallet.”
I’m on a roll and can’t stop word vomiting. It feels good to get this off my chest and out in the open. “You know what else? You act like losing my dad only happened to you. Instead of leaning on us to help each other get through life without him, you turned to your money for comfort and thought that’s the only way we’d love you. I lost my dad! Don’t you get that? He never got to teach me how to drive or chase off guys who weren’t good enough for me. He won’t walk me down the aisle, dance with me at my wedding, hold my baby so I can sleep. You couldn’t have replaced my dad, but you still could have been my grandma. We could have been there for one another. But, no, instead you created the monster that is our family. Why even reunite family from all over if what you actually want is a business deal? Reunions should be about making memories and strengthening love, not about guilting people into accepting your money and your presence. Do you feel the least bit closer to me or stronger in our relationship because of this reunion? No! Because you spent more time with Dorian! He’s not family, but what do you care if it’s your family who does what you tell them if you can get strangers to do what you want? What is the point of family to you, Grandma? You could have all the money in the world, and you’d be just as able to squeeze love from a guilted, frightened heart as bring back the dead! It’s not a time fornewfamily unions, but keeping old ones strong. Except this time, I actually did find something new where I least expected it. If anything, I owe you a thanks for that. But I’m done trying to have a relationship withyou.”
Everyone starts talking all at once.
“I’m sorry, Sadie, did you say your heart wants my best friend?”
