Zebulon Grey, seated at the head of the table with Xenia Grey and Lucy’s parents, ordered several bottles of champagne. Once they each had a slender glass of the bubbly drink, he toasted the nuptials and the happy couple.
Seven Duvall family members sat on one side of the table. Across from them, the Grey contingent included Axel, Valene, Cam and his wife Ria and Aunt Dixie. Aunt Dixie was seated at the parents’ end of the table next to Axel’s mother, who seemed amused by her presence.
Lucy sat next to Francine and across from Valene and Axel.
After the delicious meal had been eaten and the dessert dishes cleared away, Lucy’s father produced the green property ledger and placed it on the table.
“My girls know what this book is, but let me explain to the groom’s family.”
Lucy had already had about four glasses of champagne. She signaled for the server stationed in the room to pour her a fifth. He filled her glass to the very top, emptying the bottle. There weren’t enough bubbly drinks on this planet to deaden her senses completely, but she was as close as she was ever going to get.
“This green volume is my property ledger,” her father explained, as Lucy steadily drank her champagne glass empty. Both Valene and Axel gave her quizzical looks.
“I’ve selected five suitable residences for the happy couple to choose from for their first home.”
“Father! No!” Ardelia half stood from her chair. “You promised me—”
“I’m well aware of what I promised, Ardelia. Sit down.” He gave his eldest daughter a rare disapproving stare.
Lucy forced herself to look at Axel’s parents and not at him. She didn’t want to see unexpected greed for the financial boon the green ledger choice represented. Or worse, despair lodged in his eyes when he discovered where her parents expected them to live. Would he want to live in a rich property on Alpha-Prime if it was offered for free?
“Where are these properties located?” the elder Mr. Grey asked in a civil tone, although his expression didn’t look particularly happy.
Her father, who obviously misread the mood of the groom’s family completely, said with a lighthearted laugh, “Oh, no need to worry. All of these properties are located beneath the very finest spheres on Alpha-Prime. Nothing but the best for my girls.”
“That’s very generous of you, sir. However, we’ll be staying here on Earth,” Axel said clearly and succinctly.
The room went as quiet as the silence of outer space. Axel picked up his half-full champagne glass and took a deep drink, emptying it in one swallow. She guessed he understood exactly how her father would react.
Francine looked surprised, but then a tranquil expression covered her face. Their father was not at all calm. He stood, clutching the green property ledger in one hand and raised a fist. “Earth!” The word came from her father’s lips dripping with disdain. “You expect me to leave my precious daughter on Earth?
“No daughter of mine will live on a backwater colony planet. No place on this unacceptable planet will ever be as grand as the lowliest trash heap abode in the Outer Basin. I have spent a considerable number of credits on the best place for Francine and her sisters to live on Alpha-Prime.”
Lucy’s mother spoke up next. “I must agree. The accommodations on Earth are…well, to be quite honest…dreadful. They are small, inexpensively furnished and completely inadequate for any member of a Designer family. Nothing on Earth will ever provide Francine the lifestyle she’s used to living. Youmustmove to Alpha-Prime, it’s simply the only choice and that’s all there is to it.” She put a hand on her husband’s arm and he slowly retook his seat.
Axel didn’t stand to speak, but he straightened up in his chair. “I’m sorry to disagree, ma’am, but Alpha-Prime is not theonlychoice.” Lucy expected more anger from him. Instead, he was calm and collected when he added, “I plan to buy a nice piece of forested property including several acres of land near a vast lake. I’m certain we’ll have plenty of room for our purposes and Francine’s life will be just fine.”
Ardelia, red-faced, launched herself to her feet. “I demand first pick of the Alpha-Prime properties. I was supposed to get married first and I want the first selection from the places in the green ledger. It’s completely unfair that Francine and her horrible, unsuitable groom get to make the first selection whenno onewanted this arranged marriage anyway.”
Aunt Dixie stood up, but she was so short it wasn’t very dramatic. “Axel is not a horrible or unsuitable groom, you snot-nosed, spoiled little brat. Why are you even here? This is supposed to be the rehearsal dinner for the wedding party and parents only. You are the one horning in. And another thing—”
“That will be enough, Aunt Dixie. Please sit down.” Axel’s father didn’t stand up, but his voice projected as if he had. Aunt Dixie, grumbling under her breath about the unfairness of life, took her chair. “I’m sorry you don’t care for our chosen home planet, Harrison and Adeline. We find it rather lovely and we’ve been happy here for several decades.
“However, the choice of living quarters, while typically on Alpha-Prime for most arranged marriages, is not absolute in the paperwork our two families signed.” He nodded once at his wife. “Xenia and I had already planned to make the Earth colony our permanent home and ensured that language was included in the paperwork when you generously asked us to combine our families in this endeavor. As you well know, the groom typically decides on the domain in any marriage on Alpha-Prime, arranged match or not. In the interest of fairness, if you would rather cancel the wedding arrangement because of this issue, now would be the time to do so.”
Axel’s eyes widened. Lucy perked up and took notice. All of what Mr. Grey said was true. The groom or his family was undisputedly always allowed to choose the permanent domain for the new couple on Alpha-Prime. Her father knew this and had selected five very expensive upscale domains to tempt his future sons-in-law to make their homes where he wanted instead of the likely lesser places each groom would provide.
Lucy’s father looked ashen. He closed his eyes and sat back in his chair, clutching the green ledger with white knuckles.
Francine, ever the peacemaker, said, “Father. I know you’re disappointed, but perhaps we can look at the different properties when we travel back to Alpha-Prime for our wedding there.” She tilted her head and gave Axel a smile. “Perhaps we could move this decision into the future. Perhaps Axel could be persuaded to live on Alpha-Prime at a later time, once he’s seen the wonderful properties that I know you’ve chosen for us.”
Their father cleared his throat, glanced at the green ledger and eased his tight grip. “May I show you the property choices? Perhaps you could look at them before making a final decision, Axel.”
Axel didn’t seem swayed to change his mind. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up. It’s unlikely I’ll change my mind. However, in the interest of considering all the information available, we can take a look at your green ledger. I’d also be willing to look at the properties on Alpha-Prime before purchasing any land here on Earth.”
Lucy’s father smiled in the way that said he expected Axel wouldn’t turn down any of the five places he’d chosen. Her father was used to greed being a useful device for his purposes.
He opened the green ledger to reveal the electronic device within. He pushed a few buttons and a hologram appeared above the table with the first property in a tri-dimensional representation, so no matter where anyone was seated around the table, the images could be seen.
