“Mom, Dad, I would like to introduce you to someone. This is Amery Dahla, my fiancé. Amery, my parents.”
They shook hands and exchanged a few words. They were surprised, but not
unpleasant; Jeriah had never brought a girl home. She expressed interest in Mr.
Krovstoff’s research in chemistry and they chatted for a while. But Mrs.
Krovstoff still seemed detached and rather cold—even when she assured them
that they had every blessing a parent could offer. Then other relatives had
started showing up and his parents went to greet them.
They wandered the room as well, greeting relatives. Amy’s head still spun trying to remember everyone. At her side, Jeriah greeted everyone with a with a small smile and introduction. The names and faces blurred, despite Jeriah’s efforts last night to tell her about some of the relatives There was something about every reaction that rubbed Amy the wrong way though, from Uncle George and Aunt Tiana who congratulated them with tears in their eyes to cousins to cousins Sherman and Valerie, who just stopped by to call Jeriah a “weak, antisocial traitor” and Amy a “money-whoring slut” before walking away again. There was Cousin Leroy with dead, glazed-over eyes, who didn’t seem to be interested in Amy at all, only that Jeriah was getting married and that he was in the running to be the next Head of House. Amy wondered if she had made a mistake. Sure she enjoyed having more money than she knew what to do with and the comfort of a date, but was it worth having to call so many people family?
And of course there was Gareth, who kissed her fingers and asked her to walk
with him.
“Actually, your parents want to talk to you. Alone.” He gestured to Jeriah’s
parents, who were standing another corner of the tent. Gareth dismissed him,
taking Amy’s arm from his. “I’ll watch Amery for you, don’t worry.”
Amy caught his questioning expression and showed him a smile. “Go ahead. I’ll
be ok.” She would be ok. He was right; what could Gareth do in an afternoon
walk around the park that he wouldn’t do any other evening at home?
Jeriah nodded, composing his face; Gareth and led her away, towards the lake.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She was surprised at the straightforward compliment.
“I meant you, not the dress or the hair,” Gareth clarified, surprising her again
with the his directness. Gareth leaned in closer. “Although I quite prefer the just
out of the shower look,” he whispered in her ear, referencing when she had
wandered into the kitchen in only a robe with her hair still dripping wet. Gareth
had been very clear that his bed would be waiting for her that night if she
wanted to sleep with something other than a stick or a book.
Amy flushed. “I told you to forget that.”
“How could I?” Gareth’s face turned suddenly serious and he pulled away to a
more respectable distance. “Amery. I owe you an apology. My behavior towards
you in high school was that of a immature boy infatuated with a girl he couldn’t
possibly compare to. I’m sorry for teasing you then, and even more if I made
you uncomfortable since your engagement to my cousin. Could you find it in you to forgive me?”
“Oh.” She saw Gareth in a new light suddenly. He was manlier for his apology,
and a lot less annoying. “Of course.” She found herself struggling to find the
proper words. “Thank you… for your concern. I hope we’ll get along now…
cousin?”
“Just call me Gareth. May I call you Amy?”
“Haven’t you been doing so all along?” she teased. Still serious, Gareth opened
his mouth to object before he realized she was messing with him. He chuckled,
and the tension seemed to die away. “I’d like to continue then, with your
permission this time.”
“Permission is given.”
“Yes!” He touched her waist suddenly, and lifted her easily in the air. “Hello,
Amy!”
The wind shuddered through her hair, threatening to mess it up. Her dress
fluttered elegantly around her and her heart leapt into her throat, pounding so
hard her surprise came out sounding more like a squeal. “Gareth! Put me
down!”
He spun her around laughing before setting her lightly on the grass. He looked
like he was about to say something else when a server approached them.
“Master Krovstoff, Miss Dahla, my lady would like to see you.”
Gareth’s face took on a serious countenance again as he noticed the the server’s attire—this one had a burgundy and gold-trim vest where all the other ones had simply black ones. He took his hands off Amy’s waist and followed.
“Amery, us too.” Jeriah appeared following the server, his face and voice serious, and maybe just a little dark. He offered her his arm and she took it with a questioning expression. He shook his head. “Grandmother wants to talk.”
Notes:
The Gareth x Amy thing is supposed to be a much bigger deal than I ended up writing it as. :X
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