Worthington Wives

Chapter eleven

The Ice Queen Agnes was definitely not happy about her eldest son Avery “Ben’s” engagement to a no name blue collar worker named Reyanna. A nurse of all things! How detestable, she thought. It was a disgrace for her son, a Worthington to be engaged to someone of such low social stature. She had him paired with a fine girl, a well bred girl of the well respected Tarkington family.

“But what did he do?” She asked herself. “He brings in this nurse to care for Avery Sr. and he ends up asking her to marry him! Right in front of me!” She shouted aloud, hoping someone would hear her indignance.

“What disrespect to me and to that poor girl Angelica. He just paraded that woman in front of her!” She recalled. “Oh, the humiliation! The Tarkingtons will be at odds with us for sure,” she fretted.

“I should call and try to make amends. Perhaps they will permit Phillip to marry her. Surely he won’t disappoint me. Maybe I should speak with him,” Agnes decided. She messaged Phillip to come to her room, she had a matter of utmost importance to speak to him about.

Phillip was in his room holding his yearbook in his hands. He was looking at the editor of the yearbook and Award winning Artist, the lovely Cecelia Veloice. She had been Phillip’s friend, but her heart was set on his older brother Ben.

Cecelia had always stared at his brother and secretly followed him in school, but Ben wouldn’t give her the time of day. Phillip had always been there to pick up the pieces, though, every time her heart was broken.

Phillip and Cecelia had spent a lot of time together, though, because they had similar interests. Phillip loved to read, draw, play games and watch movies just like Cecelia. They loved riding their bikes or playing tennis or just walking trails together. Both loved nature and science and they were just happy being outside.

Phillip was not a social outgoing person like Ben. He was more interested in a quiet evening with Cecelia than going out. Yes Phillip knew he was in the “friend zone”. “I may as well have been gay for all it mattered,” he said aloud. “She never noticed I was a man who thought about her constantly”, he said to himself.

Phillip remembered one night staying out late lying side by side, staring at the stars and naming the constellations. He smiled at the memory. She never even knew how beautiful she is, he thought, or how much I love her.

They always went places together, but never as a couple, only as friends. Phillip had never held Cecelia’s hand or kissed her, though he always wanted to. But he didn’t want to scare her off and lose her friendship. So, he went along always as her friend, even when she watched Ben play sports or just stared at him.

His mother’s text tweeted and he looked at it. “Utmost Importance” he read aloud. “Okay, Ben, what did you do to upset Mom that I’m gonna have to pay for this time?” Phillip asked his not present brother.

“I want to make amends with the Tarkington family, Phillip,” she told him. “Your disrespectful brother caused me a terrible humiliation in front of their daughter Angelica,” she said, angrily looking out the window. “He’s marrying your father’s nurse, of all things!” She said, reflecting on the incident.

“Mom….what does all this have to do with me?” Phillip asked, dreading her answer. “I would like for you to ask for her hand instead,” she told him, studying his face. Phillip frowned and stared at the absurdity of her request.

“Mom….I can’t marry Angelica,” he said, shaking his head and sitting down on a stool in front of her. “And why not?!” She fumed, angry that he didn’t go along with her suggestion.

“Mom….do you know so little about me that you don’t even know that I’m in love with Cecelia Veloice? I always have been since the day I met her,” he said in frustration. “She always followed Ben around like a puppy because she wanted to marry him….but he never even noticed her.

“But this is good,” he said. With Ben out of the way now, getting married, maybe I can gain her attention,” he said with excitement. “And she comes from a very good high society family as well, Mom. The Veloice family has their own cruise line,” he reminded her.

“Well….it doesn’t fix things with the Tarkingtons, but I’ll figure something else out with them,” she said. “I will invite the Veloices over tomorrow for dinner to discuss plans for you two to be wed. How’s that, my son?” She asked, smiling at her brown eyed brown haired handsome son. She touched his cheek as an expression of endearment. “

“Mom, you’re the best!” He said, kissing her cheek. “Please, Mom, give them an offer they just simply cannot refuse. I’ve wanted to be with her so long,” he pleaded. “Don’t worry, my Son, you know I know how to work a good trade agreement,” she said, winking at him. “Thanks Mom, I’ve got confidence in you,” he said as he left the room whistling.

————-

Ben and Reyanna decided to go out to dinner the next day to celebrate their engagement. “My darling Reyanna you have made me so happy,” Ben said, staring into her big brown eyes. They decided on a Japanese restaurant that had couch seating, and they were sitting close with Ben’s arm around Reyanna’s shoulders.

“I know one person who isn’t happy tonight, your mother,” she said. “Two,” he said smiling. “Angelica,” he said, and they both laughed. “True,” Reyanna said.

“I knew when I saw you in that coffee shop I was gonna marry you,” he said. “I was disappointed when I saw a diamond on your finger….but I was not gonna give up without trying,” he told her.

“I fell in love when I first saw your eyes,” Reyanna admitted. “But what got me was that wonderful aroma of your cologne,” she said. “It rendered me senseless,” she said. Ben laughed. “I loved your scent too. Coconut and Green apple. It was so clean and fresh,” he said. “Cheap shampoo and knockoff body spray,” she admitted, laughing. “I’m glad it worked for you, though,” she said, giving him an adorable dimpled grin.

“I want to kiss you, Reyanna,” he said in a low voice. “Okay with me,” she said, staring at him. Ben gently held her jaw, bent close and delivered a soft kiss upon her bowed red lips. When she responded to him, he deepened the kiss. The electrical energy between them was palpable. Even the Japanese servers noticed the loving exchange. They giggled and talked about them, enjoying the beauty of their romantic kiss.