Chapter 3
Stefano and Brad left to play tennis the next morning, and were getting along like old friends after the relaxed evening before.
Daphne had gotten them a guest membership at her tennis and golf club.
The women hung around after breakfast, making plans.
Geoff and Gloria hadn’t come to breakfast, still tired and jet-lagged from the trip.
Geoff liked to sleep late and liked Gloria to stay with him.
Stefano commented to Brad as they drove to the tennis courts, “I’m sorry my sister’s fiancé is such a bore.
We’re all trying to get used to him. It changes things when one’s siblings get married.
We’ve always been very close and we’ve been lucky with Daphne’s husband, Phillip.
My sisters have taken a while to get used to Liz, and Geoff is going to be tough, with his bragging and sense of entitlement. ”
Brad smiled at Stefano and looked relaxed.
He liked Stefano, and all the rest of Sofia’s family.
And the undercurrent of Geoff’s snobbishness and subtle racism didn’t bother him.
“Don’t worry, I’m used to it. You can imagine what it was like doing my residency in Tennessee, and now practicing there.
But most of the time, the patients I see are really great, and eventually they figure out that whatever color I am, I’m a decent guy and a good doctor and I take good care of them.
That’s all that matters. There is always going to be a Geoff in every group.
It’s something you learn to deal with when you’re very young. ”
“You must get tired of it.”
Brad shrugged it off, thinking of Sofia.
“Sofia is such a sweet person,” he commented.
“It’s one of the things I love about her, among a lot of others.
She’s so pure and such a good human being, and she’s a fantastic nurse practitioner and midwife.
I don’t think she has the prejudices that are so common in your world, and even mine.
It’s too soon to say anything, but we’ve been dating for a year, and I’m very serious about her.
She’s so innocent, I want to protect her.
I just want you to know that our relationship is a very big deal to me.
I want to tell your mother that before we leave. ”
“Thank you,” Stefano said, and smiled at him. “That’s good to know. My mother will be happy to hear it. You can’t ask for more than that. Phillip is a good guy too. He is wonderful to my sister, which is all a parent can ask. How will your family feel about Sofia?” he asked Brad.
“They’ll be shocked,” Brad said sincerely.
“Your family has been a lot cooler than mine will be. They’re very traditional.
They expect me to marry one of the Black women I know and have always dated.
I always thought I would too, and then Sofia came along.
I don’t care what color she is, I love her.
And I want to marry her one day. I’d rather it be with both families’ blessing.
I think mine will be okay once they meet her. ”
“For God’s sake, have someone dress her decently before she does. She looks like a homeless person, or like she raided my closet when I was fourteen.”
Brad laughed. “I don’t care about that. I love her just the way she is. And the people she takes care of don’t care either. She’s the best midwife at our medical center, and everyone respects her.”
Stefano looked pleased to hear it and then smiled at his new friend and possible brother-in-law, one day. He had been far more accepting than his sisters had expected him to be. He wasn’t as uptight and conservative as they thought.
“I just want to make one thing clear,” Stef said to Brad. “When I get you on the tennis court, I intend to beat the shit out of you. Just because you’re new and a guest doesn’t mean there’s a courtesy pass, when it comes to tennis. So you’ve been warned.” He grinned confidently.
“And I don’t care if you are Sofia’s brother, I’m going to beat you until you squeal like a little girl.
There’s no mercy for rich white boys. I’m bigger, taller, stronger, and older than you are, and I’m going to beat the crap out of you.
” They pulled up at the club then, and they were both smiling.
“Is this going to be a war on the courts?” Brad asked Stefano.
“No, a family feud, which is much more savage and more dangerous and a lot more fun. Prepare to die, Dr. Jackson. I intend to win.”
They got out of the car, walked into the club, laughing, and headed for the courts, ready to have some fun.
—
Eloise, Gloria, Geoff, and Sofia drove into the village of East Hampton to go shopping.
Eugenia had stayed at the house to talk to the cook and the staff and thought it would be more fun for the young people to be on their own.
She was glad that Brad had gone off with Stef, so Stef could get to know him one-on-one.
He seemed very serious about Sofia when Eugenia watched them together.
Since there was no father around, Eugenia liked the idea of Stefano getting to know him.
Sofia was happy with the warm reception Brad had gotten, and didn’t seem bothered by Geoff’s supercilious attitude. She was more tolerant than her sisters.
Gloria was talking about her wedding all the way into town, and everyone else looked bored. They parked the car, and walked past all the shops of luxury brands, as Gloria continued to talk about the reception, and finally Eloise turned to her, exasperated.
“I am so sick and tired of hearing about your wedding. We haven’t seen each other in ages, is that all you can talk about?”
“It’s a very important time in our lives,” Geoff snapped at Eloise haughtily.
“This isn’t just any wedding. My father is an earl, or had you forgotten?
” Eloise had to force herself not to respond that he never let anyone forget it.
Sofia looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock.
He was spoiling for a fight, and Eloise was ready to give him one.
Geoff had clearly thought he and Gloria were going to arrive and be the stars because of their wedding, and instead Brad had stolen the show, because everyone liked him better.
Geoff couldn’t stand it. And Gloria seemed torn between soothing her future husband’s bruised ego and allying with her family.
It was a hard spot to be in, especially with someone as pompous as Geoff.
“Why don’t we just all relax for now, and do some shopping?” Sofia said, trying to calm them all down, when Geoff turned to her with an angry look.
“I hope you haven’t invited Brad to the wedding. Gloria and I don’t even know him, and my parents might be upset.”
“My mother is hosting the wedding,” Sofia reminded him. “And there’s no reason for your family to be upset. Brad will be my date, which isn’t up to them.”
“As I recall, your family hasn’t contributed a penny,” Eloise shot back at him, furious at his intimidating Sofia, who was the meekest and the least aggressive of them all.
“That’s none of your business.” Geoff snapped at Eloise. “Your sister is lucky to be marrying into a family like ours. People pay for that honor these days. She’ll have a title one day thanks to me and my family.”
“Our father is a prince, Geoff,” Eloise said haughtily, “and he’s not much, but he’s ten times the man you are.
Your family are nothing more than pauper aristocracy with your crumbling estates.
They call that white trash here,” she said, and walked away and into the Balenciaga store.
She wanted to see what merchandise they carried here, and Geoff was left on the sidewalk, speechless with fury, as he turned to Gloria and took it out on her.
“Your family are a bunch of rude savages,” he said to his future wife when they were alone.
“I’m the groom and I have a say in who comes to our wedding.
The final say. I warn you, if that man comes to our wedding, I’ll walk out.
” Gloria knew she couldn’t do that to her mother, and Sofia was such a gentle soul that no one ever picked on her.
It was an unspoken family rule, which Geoff had just violated by threatening her.
“My mother has the final say about the wedding. Can’t you just let it go?” Gloria asked him. “Sofia is right. Brad is a good guy and he’s Sofia’s date. Just back off, Geoff.” She was tired of the tension and comments, and defending him to her sisters.
“He doesn’t belong on our family vacation, none of us know him.”
“This is our family vacation. You don’t get to make the rules.” It was as far as Gloria was willing to go, and he wasn’t pleased. He expected his future wife to back him unconditionally, and she wasn’t.
“This isn’t about your parents, it’s about you,” Gloria said and walked into a bookstore, while he stood fuming outside.
He was no match for any of them, but that didn’t stop him.
Gloria was shaking while she pretended to look at the books.
She joined her sisters then to walk into the other high-end stores, and she spoke softly to her younger sister. Geoff was walking around town alone.
“I’m sorry, Sofia. It’s just a very different culture in England,” Gloria said, making excuses for him.