Page 37 of Shadow's Surrender
Scarlett inhaled deeply then exhaled. “I guess I don’t like him. No … as a matter of fact, IknowI don’t like him.”
“Why not? He comes from a good family, the women seem to take to him, he went to a good college, he’s personable … What don’t you like about him?”
“He’s a snob, a phony, and I don’t think he’s very sincere. He plays whatever part a situation demands. And if I’m going to marry a man, I want to be in love with him.”
“Love is over-rated. You need a solid foundation to build a family and a life.”
And have young mistresses to scratch your itch or make you feel loved? God, how I wish I could say that.“I don’t agree. I really have to go, Dad.”
Her father stared at her with pursed lips, then nodded. “We’ll talk later, and stop upsetting your mother.” He picked up his sandwich and took a big bite as his eyes wandered down to the contract. Their talk was over—she’d been dismissed.
As Scarlett sped down the hill, anger sparked through her. The last thing she wanted was a marriage like her parents. Her mother filled her time with luncheons, golf games, and the occasional committee, and business preoccupied her father. Her mother found solace in a bottle of gin, and her dad found it in the arms of his latest girlfriend. The only time her parents went out together was when protocol demanded it. Occasionally her mother would go on one of her dad’s business trips, and she always seemed to choose the cities that had the best shopping. Scarlett couldn’t remember the last time she saw her parents kiss or hold hands—they lived a marriage of convenience.
Scarlett waved at Kiara, who sat at a round table in the corner of the eatery by the large window looking out on Spruce Street. She maneuvered her way through the small bistro until she reached the table, then plopped down on the blue paisley cushion on the white wrought-iron chair.
“Sorry I’m late. My dad was home for lunch and wanted to talk about his favorite subject—Warren.” Scarlett rolled her eyes and picked up the menu.
“What’s going on with you and him? I saw Warren at the club the other day, and he said that you’ve been avoiding him.”
“I have.” She motioned the waitress over. “Can I please have a glass of water with two slices of lemon?”
The young waitress smiled. “Sure. Have you decided on what you’d like to eat?” They gave her their orders then she dashed away.
“Why have you been avoiding him?” Kiara asked as she broke off a piece of bread.
“Because I’m done with him. I know I have to tell him, but I really haven’t been in the mood forthattalk. I figured he would just get bored and move on.” Scarlett looked down at the blue-checked tablecloth then glanced back up. “I know—it’s a coward’s way.”
“I don’t get why you don’t like Warren. He was so funny at the club, and Melody was pushing her boobs into his face. She’s shameless, really.” Kiara spread butter on her bread then took a bite.
“She can have him. Oh, Kiara, I want somethingcompletelydifferent for my life. I don’t want to be going to lunches at the club or playing fucking golf or waiting home to please my man after he’s had a hard day at the office. I mean, don’t you feel like we’re stuck in the damn 1950s or something?”
Kiara cocked her head. “Not really. We go on trips to wherever we want. I have a good job. I can do what I please. And if I don’t marry, it’s no big deal.” She wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “I do want to get married and have a family, but the important thing is that it’smychoice.”
“Is it really? You know your parents want you to settle down and have a family. It’s—”
“They want my brother to marry and have kids too. I think it’s just a parent thing, regardless of the time and place in which we live. Parents want to make sure their kids aren’t alone after they’re gone.”
Scarlett squeezed one of the lemon slices into her water then took a sip. “Okay, I agree with you but I’ll bet the daughters in most households get pushed more into marrying and having a family than the sons do, especially when they’re in their twenties. Look at us—we’re still living at home. We go to the club, we do our charity fundraisers, we date men who say all the right things. Aren’t you bored out of your fucking mind?”
“Not really. Why don’t you find some stud and have a fling? That would perk up your summer. Flirt with one of those guys who are working on the tennis house at your place. Oh God, that would be such a classic stereotype—rich woman with a hired hand.” Kiara giggled.
A thread of guilt wove through Scarlett.Maybe I should tell Kiara about Shadow.Then she reminded herself that he was dissing her, so her summer fling may very well have burned up before the summer had ended.
“You’ve got such a serious look on your face. What’re you thinking about?” Her friend’s eyes sparkled when the waitress set down a Gruyère and paté baguette in front of her.
Scarlett picked up her fork and picked at her spinach and mushroom quiche. “That I’m going to tell Warren it’s over, and that I want to get an apartment and a job.”
Kiara froze in mid-bite and looked over the top of her sandwich at her. “Wow,” was all she said, then she sank her teeth into the crusty bread.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I just feel stifled at home. I want my own place, and I want to earn money instead of having an allowance.”
“What kind of a job and where would you live?”
“I’d love to do something in marketing or event planning at a hotel or marketing firm. For the past year I’ve been looking at places on Larkspur Lane. My dad has several apartments over there that he rents. He’s had a few of them for years.”
“Would you rent from your dad?”
“No. I want to do everything on my own. I have money in the trust fund my grandparents set up for me before they died.”
