“Oh, he’s fine, I suppose.” I fidgeted with my napkin under the pretense of draping it over my lap, but my fingers were suddenly trembling and I wasn’t even sure why. “He seems nice enough.”
Dad raised a graying eyebrow at me, those Westwood blue eyes suddenly so piercing that my pulse spiked, a subconscious warning system. “Gregory comes from a good family. He’s independently wealthy and he has a title. I’m no expert in these things, but I’ve been told he’s also rather handsome.”
“You…” I trailed off, blinking hard and wondering if I was dreaming. Maybe I’d taken a nap after that extended, surprisingly good coffee date with Trent and I hadn’t woken up yet. “You’veheardhe’s handsome?”
“Yes,” Dad said gruffly but entirely matter of fact. “I’ve asked around and the general consensus among the women at the country club appears to be that he’s no pain to look at. So, what do you think?”
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, suddenly nervous. “You seem a little different tonight.”
He let out a heavy sigh, but then his expression softened in a way that made me even more nervous. “God, I wish your mother was here for this.”
A soul-deep ache started in my heart, both at the mention of her and the slight hint in his eyes of just being so completely lost. I paused for a beat, leaning forward and reaching for his hand. “You wish Mom was here for what, Daddy?”
“It’s different with the boys,” he said as if he hadn’t even heard me. Then he brought his gaze directly to mine. “It’s high time you consider getting married, Charlotte.”
Without even having reached his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze, I slumped back in my chair, my eyelids going wild and my entire body suddenly numb. “Excuse me?”
“You’re twenty-five.”
“And Alex is thirty-three,” I said, too stunned to really even think about it. “Nate is thirty-one. The twins are thirty and even Zach and Theo are older than me. Literally everyone in this house is.”
“Yes, but the boys’ biological clocks aren’t ticking.” He sighed. “Gregory is an exceptionally good prospect for you, honey. Surely, you must see that he’s perfect. Perhaps if I had such a good match for one of the boys, but I don’t.”
I stared at him, my mouth slightly open, unable to process what he was saying. Gregory Van Allen was charming, yes, but perfect? He’d beensocondescending when he’d found out what I did for a living.
“And he would like to have children,” my dad added as if that was the clincher.
Sadly, he wasn’t completely wrong. Something in my chest shifted when he said it, a hollow opening up that I couldn’t ignore.
Children.
I wanted that. Desperately. I wanted to give them everything my mom had given me and so much more. Everything she hadn’t been able to give before she was gone.
I’d been filling my time with the Big Sister program, volunteering, pouring myself into helping other girls, and I loved it.Lovedit so, so much, but the idea of something entirely my own, something that was mine and mine alone, had always been my heart’s truest desire. I glanced at my dad, trying to read his expression, and then realized he wasn’t asking me what I wanted. He was expecting me to consider whathethought Ishouldwant.
A knot of longing and guilt twisted inside me.
Do I want this?I asked myself.Do I want someone for me?Someone to share a life with, someone to build something real with, something that isn’t just charity or duty or legacy?
I wanted it. I knew I did. But right now, it felt like the world was trying to hand me something that could be great. Just maybe not for me.
“We’re going to be having a small gathering here at the house next week,” Dad continued, still uncomfortable but at least a bit more at ease now that he’d essentially told me my value would diminish once I got old enough for my eggs to be questionable.“Gregory will be attending. You should use it as a chance to get to know him better.”
I stabbed my poor salmon, glancing up at him again. “A barbecue?”
“Yes,” he said, reaching across the table and giving my hand a firm squeeze. “You deserve the best, Charlotte. Gregory is what’s best for you. I wouldn’t have brought this up if I didn’t truly believe this is an opportunity we cannot let pass us by.”
I nodded, the motion automatic, but my stomach twisted with unease. I knew how these things worked in my family. It was about alignment, appearances, and practicality, not sparks, laughter, or anything as trivial as real connection.
“I’ll consider it,” I said softly, letting my words sound more like a promise than a decision.
Dad’s lips spread into a relieved smile. “Wonderful.”
He picked up his wine, and not five minutes later, he was gone again, hurrying off to take some call in private. I ate alone, not even really able to enjoy Edda’s treat since it might as well have been cardboard.
As soon as I’d forced down the last bite, I raced upstairs to my bedroom before any of my brothers could find out what Dad had talked to me about. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I brushed my hair and looked out at the quiet night, the city lights twinkling far in the distance, and tried to imagine a future with Gregory. I really did.
God, I’d always known it was a possibility that my marriage would be arranged as well. I’d never given it too much thought, because I’d thought for sure that he’d start with Alex and work his way down from there.
