Marigold and I exchange an amused glance as she harries the unfortunate employee back through the double doors and proceeds to give him a dressing down that we can hear, even though the words are obscured.
“Where’s Gabriel?” I ask, spinning in a circle, then having to grab the table edge as the room continues to sway a moment longer than it should.
“Not sure. I thought you two had snuck off somewhere, so I didn’t bother to pay attention.” Marigold joins me in searching the crowd, then her face brightens. “There he is.”
My handsome man crosses the room, adjusting his tie and combing back his hair with his fingers. As he presses a kiss to my cheek, I have to remind myself this isn’t a dream.
After tonight, we’ll officially be pledged to each other. This gorgeous male will belong to me forever, and me to him. The bubble of joy rises in my chest until it’s hard to breathe.
“Get a room,” Marigold says, rolling her eyes as we smile at one another. “Or better still, find your brother for me. Honestly, you’d think being assigned to the head table was a punishment given how few of our fellow diners appear to be in the room.”
“Tonight’s about more than eating a meal,” Gabriel says in a mild admonishment.
“Where’s your father got to?” Brianna asks the moment she arrives at the table, though she’s the one who should keep tabs on him.
“Here I am.” He slips an arm around me for the briefest of hugs before taking his seat on my right-hand side. “Are we ready to eat? I’m famished.”
Marigold squeezes my hand in excitement as another familiar face appears at the edge of the table. “Hello, Micah,” she squeaks. “We haven’t met yet, but I’m Marigold. Marigold Seppellina.”
“Nice to meet you, Marigold, Marigold.”
She blushes as he shakes her hand and I bite my lips, hoping to share a look with Gabriel, but his face is turned aside, jaw clenched as hard as a rock. He takes his seat opposite me as a wriggle of unease settles in my stomach, joining the vague discomfort already installed there by the migraine.
Marigold is in her happy place, continuing her introductions. “And this is the guest of honour, Crimson Petrovic, and her dad, Ciprian.”
“Yes. We’ve already met.”
“And you know your brother…”
He doesn’t even bother to glance in Gabriel’s direction. Appears that the animosity is shared.
Those of us still standing now take our seats, Micah positioned between me and Marigold, thanks to her interference. “Thank you for that wonderful round of introductions,” he says to her, causing Marigold’s blush to catch fire. “When are the announcements?”
The latter query is directed to my father, who takes it as his cue to stand.
“What? Wait,” I say, pulling at his jacket. “Aren’t we eating first?”
He glances down at me with a softer expression than normal, briefly cupping my cheek. “Slight change in plans, but don’t worry. You’re still my precious girl and I would never do anything to hurt you. Remember that.”
I’m buzzing from the rare compliment as he lifts his glass, clinking it with a knife until the chatter in the room dies down and all eyes face his way.
“Tonight, it is my great delight to celebrate with you my daughter’s coming of age.” There’s a small cheer and a few people take sips, but my father hasn’t finished. “It’s also a time to announce Crimson’s engagement.”
Any thought I had of eating disappears as nerves turn my midsection into a rollercoaster.
Murmurs sound across the room, expressions sharpening with interest. Gabriel’s eyes shine as I smile at him across the table.
“I have accepted a pledge to marry my daughter and can further announce the wedding will take place at the end of the week as soon as the marriage licence arrives.”
The room breaks into knowing laughter while my mouth falls open. Gabriel and I had decided together that at least a year’s engagement was necessary. Enough time that he could get settled at university and I could find a job.
His eyes cut away from mine and a tremor of dread shivers across my scalp, a piercing ring sounds in my ears.
Frostbite attacks my toes, stealing upwards along my limbs and scampering across my belly until it clamps its freezing jaws around my heart.
I see everything in that moment. All the work. The planning. Having worry as my constant companion for so many months that I forgot how to function on the few times it fell away. Influencing my father in every conversation. Just trying to have one thing—one decision—made with my input.
All fornothing.
