A Hand to Hold

Chapter thirty-five

~ Ronan

*

I finally had my wife right where I wanted her. I should’ve been thrilled Natalie had finally agreed to move into my bedroom. Well… after Christmas, that is. That was the deal we made. But the victory was bittersweet.

*

As I drove to work, my stomach was in knots over my agreement with Natalie. Hard as it was for me to admit, I knew her willingness to compromise her space and privacy meant she was that desperate for a future escape from me, and the realization gnawed at me.

*

The only way I could swallow the lump in my throat was with the knowledge that she’d never have a reason to leave me— I’d never give her one. I knew the significance of Natalie lowering her guard and the tremendous inner strength it must have taken. If I ever gave her cause to regret it, I would lose her for good, and she would deserve to be free of me.

*

When I stepped out of the elevator, Katrina handed me a cup of coffee. “A bit early for this, but thanks,” I said, taking a sip.

“I thought you may need it,” Katrina explained. “Melody called for you. So, I pushed your meeting back again and promised her you’d return her call the second you arrived.”

“s**t,” I muttered, reaching into my front pocket for my cell. Upon examining the screen, I discovered a missed call from Natalie’s aunt. “We’ve been playing phone tag for days. Thanks, Katrina.”

“Good luck,” she called after me as I entered my office and dialed Melody’s number.

*

Melody picked up after the second ring. “Hello?” She had the same kindness to her voice as Natalie and sounded almost as young. “Hello, Melody,” I greeted. “It’s Ronan Ó Ceallaigh.” The friendly tone in her voice vanished as she said, “Ah, am I finally speaking to my girl’s new husband?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I respectfully answered.

“Natalie tells me the two of you have a mutually beneficial agreement, but I need to hear, in your own words, what is it you want with my girl? What are you, a billionaire, getting out of this marriage?” Wow, straight to the point— I liked this woman.

*

“Did Natalie not enlighten you on the details?” I inquired.

“Yes, I know all about your inheritance,” Melody confirmed. “But you could’ve made any woman your wife. What made you single out my sweet, innocent Natalie?”

“Well, quite frankly, in the beginning, it was simply because she needed me as much as I needed her. But now…”

“Yes… I’m listening. Now what?”

“She’s special,” I answered assuredly.

“Yes, she is. So, imagine my disappointment to learn that my extraordinary god-daughter married herself off in exchange for her own protection? She deserves better.”

“She does, and I intend to make sure she gets it.”

“How exactly do you plan to do that? She’s already told me you aren’t the loving type.”

“That is true, but I look out for those I care about, and my wife is at the top of that list.”

*

After a long pause, I looked at my phone screen to ensure Melody had not disconnected when she said, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t get on the next flight to Chicago and drag Natalie back home with me?”

“You mean apart from the fact that she wouldn’t go?” I responded. “Natalie may be sweet, but she is also stubborn.”

“She would listen to me,” Melody insisted.

“Maybe. But in case you’re mistaken, here’s your reason— I’ve made them an offer.” It wasn’t wise to be too specific over the phone. I trusted she understood my implication.

*

Melody lowered her voice to ask, “What did you offer?”

“Exactly what they want. Money.”

“Are you serious?”

“Always.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because Natalie doesn’t deserve to suffer the consequences of her parents’ mistakes. I, of all people, understand that. And, as I said… she’s special. Despite living under constant threat, she’s managed to make something of herself. I’d like to see what she’s capable of without being handicapped by fear.”

*

The line remained silent for several seconds before Melody replied, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you trust that I’ll take care of Natalie.”

“I want to… but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because talk is cheap. Your voice sounds genuine, but it’s not enough. That girl is my whole world. If you should be so lucky to one day have a daughter, do you think you could so easily trust her well-being to a complete stranger with a less than stellar reputation?”

“You make a fair point,” I admitted. “What can I do to alleviate your concerns?”

“Apart from time? I need to meet you in person.”

“I can have you on a plane in two hours.”

“I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I can’t take time off work right now.”

“Then we will come to you.”

“You will?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes, but I’d prefer to deal with our problem first. I’m waiting to hear from the boss. Once I have, and he accepts my offer, visiting Natalie’s hometown will be at the top of our list.”

“Then I hope to be hearing good news from you soon, in more ways than one.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

~~~

I walked into my house with only a half hour to spare before departing for cocktails with Shiela Camden and friends. Good Lord, I thought to myself, the things I was willing to do for my wife. Paying off Russians was nothing compared to subjecting myself to the torture of mingling with the social elite.

*

As I reached for the doorknob to my bedroom, Natalie emerged from hers, and I did a double take. My wife looked incredible in a knee-length, form-fitted dress, a stunning shade of dark green. It had one long sleeve, while her other shoulder was bare. Her jewelry was subtle, her makeup perfection, and the cherry on top were the red suede high heels that accented the femininity of her shape. The sight of her nearly had me panting.

*

When Natalie spotted me in the hallway, she automatically smiled. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t be home in time.” She held out her arms, displaying her appearance for approval as she nervously asked, “Do I look alright?”

“No, lass.” I gave her a seductive smile and added, “Spectacular.”

*

Natalie’s smile broadened as she walked toward me. “Someone once told me I looked good in green,” she said with a wink.

“You certainly do. Although…”

“What?” Her smile faltered for fear I was about to dish out criticism.

“Did it take you long to style your hair like that?” I inquired, referring to the sophisticated knot at the back of her head without a single hair out of place.

“Not really,” she answered. “Why? Does it look bad?”

“No, but the style doesn’t suit you. Your hair is lusciously long. It would be a crime to hide it like this.”

“You don’t think leaving my hair down makes me look too young?”

“Baby, you are young,” I pointed out, smiling at my wife’s ridiculous logic.

“What I mean is, the point of this evening is to make a good impression as a couple. I’m not sure how successful we’ll be if people think your new wife is barely legal.”

“Who cares? Every single woman at this party would kill to look younger. Besides, wanting to make a good impression is one thing, but I won’t have you trying to be someone you’re not. And this hairstyle doesn’t reflect the woman I married.”

*

Natalie’s cheeks turned red, making it impossible to resist kissing her. After our brief moment of intimacy, I brushed the back of my fingers against her warm cheeks and said, “You’re so easy to make blush.”

“Only to you,” she replied diffidently. For the first time in my thirty-two years, the words of a woman made my stomach flip. “You’d better change, or we’ll be late,” she informed me. “And apparently, I need to re-fix my hair.” She smiled sweetly as she returned to her room, leaving me in a daze.

~~~

We arrived at Sheila’s mansion fashionably late, same as everyone else. Natalie looked much more like herself, with soft curls falling over her shoulders and spilling down her back. She was on edge, made apparent by her firm hold on my arm. This excursion was well outside her comfort zone.

*

“You know, we don’t have to stay if you don’t want to,” I reminded Natalie as we approached the festive front door.

“Of course we do,” she stated in response. “We’ve already RSVP’d.”

“So?”

“So… it would be rude to bail.”

“Again, I say, so?” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t conceal her amused smile.

*

The Camden’s home was a monstrous display of their wealth. Every detail was over-the-top, and the sheer size alone was ridiculously superfluous, although consistent with every other wealthy and influential person in town. “See, this is what I expected when I pictured your place,” Natalie told me as we crossed the threshold.

“Were you disappointed?”

“Relieved, actually. I love your house.” With a crooked grin, I replied, “And that is why I married you.”

“Because I’m easy to please?”

“Because you appreciate subtly.” I leaned near her ear and added, “And it’s our house.”

*

Sheila met us in the foyer with a cheerful greeting, “Ronan, I was so thrilled to receive your acceptance of my invitation.” She was very similar to my grandmother in personality and in stature. She was tall and stout, with short white hair, far fewer wrinkles than most her age, and warm green eyes much deeper than Natalie’s. Sheila wore a classy black sequined cocktail dress and an exuberant smile.

*

“Is this your lovely wife I’ve heard so much about?” our hostess asked as I removed Natalie’s coat.

“Sheila Camden,” I replied, “I’d like you to meet Natalie Ó Ceallaigh.” Natalie wore a dazzling smile, effectively hiding the nervousness looming beneath the surface.

*

Natalie shook Sheila’s hand and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Camden. Please, don’t hold anything you’ve heard from the press against me.”

“From the press? No, dear, I wouldn’t dream of doing you such a disservice. I was referring to Brigid. She speaks very highly of you. And please, call me Sheila.”

“You have a gorgeous home, Sheila. Thank you for having us.”

“Of course, Natalie. Please enjoy yourselves. I look forward to visiting more with you later in the evening after I’ve welcomed all my guests.”

*

We made our way further into the enormous house. The dining room offered a massive buffet, while the den offered an open bar. Knowing we would both need the steeling effects of alcohol, I steered my wife toward the den.

*

As we approached the bar, I leaned over and said, “You’re a natural at this.”

“A natural at what?” Natalie asked, puzzled.

“Being pleasurable company.”

“You mean being polite?”

“Yes, but with you, it’s genuine. Everyone here only cares about the contacts they can make or the free food and drinks.”

“That seems like such an unhappy way to live,” she commented.

“And that is what makes you special.”

*

I passed Natalie a glass of wine when I noticed a group of guys I knew from college. “How do you feel about splitting up?” I suggested.

“I’ve got to learn to swim sooner or later, I suppose,” she replied.

“I won’t be too far, and I’ll feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Text if you need rescuing.”

“Will do,” she confirmed with a nod before I left her at the bar.

*

The evening proceeded exactly as expected. The idiots I went to college with were worse than females, the way they gossiped. And they all wanted details about how I convinced a ‘pretty young thing’ like Natalie to marry me. They also made quips about her interest in me being purely monetary. My insistence that our commonalities drew us together only fell on deaf ears.

*

At the first opportunity, I quietly slipped away from the conversation, retreating to the bar. As the night wore on, I kept a close eye on my wife. The other women present were at least putting on a good act of accepting her into the fold, and Natalie seemed to be having a good time.

*

After my third glass of whiskey, I switched to water. I needed to keep my wits about me in case we required a quick getaway. I knew these parties well enough to always plan for an easy escape. The men would start arguing about anything from business to sports teams, and the women turned catty with every martini that passed their lips. I prayed Natalie didn’t get swept up in their way of life. I liked her just fine the way she was. My only objective in being there was to show off how exceptional she was. I hoped in her quest to fit in a little, she didn’t lose sight of the fact that, in her case, it was far better to stand out.

*

I moved into the dining room for a bite to eat, greeting various acquaintances along the way. I felt a hand on my arm and momentarily thought Natalie had found me. But when I turned, I found myself looking at Cynthia. “Hello, Cyn, I didn’t know you’d be here tonight,” I said, pecking her cheek as she returned the gesture.

“We’ve only just arrived,” she replied. “I wasn’t aware you planned to be here either, darling. Are you teaching your new wife to mix with the upper class?” I didn’t appreciate her tone when referring to my wife but decided to overlook it. “Natalie doesn’t need teaching. Her behavior far exceeds my own.”

*

Cynthia was shadowed by a guy in his mid-twenties with brown hair, brown eyes, and average height, along with everything else. “Who’s your friend, Cynthia?” I inquired.

“Oh, you haven’t met Justin?” I shook his hand and introduced myself. “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” he said. “Your reputation precedes you.” Being addressed as ‘sir’ was nothing new for me. However, there was something about the way he said it that made me feel old.

*

“How do you know Cynthia?” I asked in an attempt at cordiality.

“He’s my boyfriend, silly,” she answered. It seemed very unlike Cynthia to have a boyfriend so young and nondescript. I didn’t miss the irony that barely a week had passed since she’d labeled Natalie as plain, only to turn around and start up a relationship with a John Doe.

*

“Justin, could you be a sweetheart and fetch me some champagne?” Cynthia asked her boyfriend while fluttering her eyelashes. Once she’d successfully bent him to her will, she shifted her focus back to me. “He hardly seems like your type, Cyn,” I pointed out.

“Look who’s talking. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about Justin or Natalie.”

“What would you prefer to talk about?”

“Daddy.” With a scoff, I replied, “Save your breath, Cynthia.”

*

I started to walk away, but Cynthia gently took ahold of my arm, saying, “Ronny, surely you can’t hold his behavior against him.”

“I absolutely can.” She ignored my reply, continuing, “His disappointment got the better of him. He’d always hoped to see the two of us merge the companies one day.”

“He’s a grown-ass man and more than capable of controlling his actions.”

“He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Cyn, it’s not your job to play peacemaker. We’re not having this discussion.” But, of course, she put up with being told what to do about as well as I did.

*

“So, you’re willing to let a twenty-year friendship fall to the wayside,” Cynthia hissed, “simply because Daddy spoke a few harsh words to your assistant?”

“Wife,” I spat back. “Natalie is my wife, Cynthia. And he did more than that.” I lowered my voice and added, “He dared to put his hands on her.”

“Is that what she told you? He would never do such a thing, Ronan. You know that.”

“I saw the f*****g bruises myself.”

“Which she could’ve gotten anywhere. I think you need to ask yourself how well you really trust this woman.”

“I’m done with this conversation,” I said with finality.

*

Again, I turned to leave, and again, Cynthia stopped me. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said, the sweetness returning to her voice. “I’m just worried about you, Ronan. You’re not yourself. I would hate to think of you being taken advantage of.” After a calming breath, I replied, “Your concern is appreciated but unnecessary. My judgment is clear and sound.”

*

Cynthia’s hands went up in surrender, and she said, “Alright, if you say so.”

“I do.”

“But I wish you’d reconsider working with Price Development. As a favor to me?” She sent me a soft smile she thought would sway me. “You know I’ll always consider you a friend,” I said. “But that is something I cannot do.” Her smile immediately fell, and she grumbled, “I really hope you don’t regret burning so many bridges simply because you put your trust in the wrong woman.” Without giving me a chance to respond, she walked away.

*

I’d never seen Cynthia act in such a way before. She was typically so collected, composed, and the life of every party. But she seemed personally offended by my trust in Natalie as if I was choosing my wife over her. I shook off the bizarre encounter with Cynthia and attempted to salvage the remainder of the evening. However, that proved impossible by the presence of yet another nosy female.

*

She approached me with an over-exaggerated sashay of her hips, attempting to present herself as younger than she was. I cringed with embarrassment at the thought I was ever, if even for a short time, related to this woman. When she stood before me, her sly smile made me uneasy. “What an utter delight to see you this evening, Ronan.” Her voice hit like anti-freeze— sweet but poisonous. I stared apathetically back at her and replied, “You lie about as well as you’ve aged… Helena.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~