CHAPTER SEVEN
P ercy walked into the living room and right over to us. He handed me a bouquet of pink carnations and white lilies to Mrs. Belfiore. “I apologize for our delay. The women in my family would pitch a hissy fit if I showed up for dinner empty-handed.” His amused tone was melodic, with a hint of a southern twang. I liked the sound, though I kept my expression blank. They were only a minute later than expected. However, I learned something about Percy. He had an expectation about time and courtesy. Carnations were the most ordinary flowers, but I lifted my head with a smile and inhaled the bouquet. “Thank you, Mr. Sterling.”
“Yes, thank you, Percy,” Mrs. Belfiore echoed. She signaled for Patricia to take them away with a quiet instruction to add the lilies to the vase in the dining room.
Percy’s brown eyes were concentrated as he scrutinized, scanning me from head to toe, and seemed to be waiting for something. And it finally dawned on me that he wanted to shake my hand.
I held it out, and he clasped it firmly. “Apologies, Mr. Sterling.”
“Let’s all relax here. Call me Percy. We’re just friends having lunch. Isn’t that right, Reg?” His index finger brushed the back before letting go, and I fought hard not to meet his eyes or stiffen. He’d done it on purpose, I was sure of it. To see if I reacted to his touch or if I’d want him to touch me more. No thanks.
“That’s right,” Mr. Belfiore said, letting out a dry laugh and coming over to stand before Mrs. Belfiore.
“Reg says you love lilies, so we had to bring your favorite flower,” Percy told her. His tone was gentle and brought a curl to Grandmother’s lips.
Percy’s eyes shifted between Mrs. Belfiore and me and let out a whistle. “Such beautiful ladies in our company. We must’ve done something right.”
“Yes, indeed we have,” Mr. Belfiore added.
Was he serious? I glanced at Percy again. If I hadn’t known his nauseating persona online, I’d have thought him handsome, with his soft brown eyes and sharp jawline. Or I’d have been more curious about him choosing a salmon-colored suit to meet me today instead of the usual black and greys most men wore these days. It reminded me of the more daring clothing choices made by sports athletes that were also bespoke and well-tailored.
Grandmother touched my hand, and I realized I hadn’t responded to his compliment.
“Thank you, Mr. Sterling. You’re too kind,” I said, in a light tone.
“I’m just stating a fact, and it’s Percy,” he said evenly.
“Percy,” I repeated, and put on a smile.
Percy grinned at me. “There’s that smile we see in all the pictures online.” Had I detected a hint of sarcasm in his tone? “So, let’s call each other Percy and Adelina.” He spoke as if he was training a child.
My eyes narrowed on him.
“You can call me anything if you keep playing golf like that,” Mr. Belfiore broke in and chuckled. He sent a cool warning stare to me before returning to the happy mask he had on today. “Guess who finally put Ellis in his place, Constance?”
“Did you, Reginald?” she asked in shocked excitement.
“With Percy, I did,” he trilled.
Percy shook his head. “Ellis was hitting it fat.”
“Higher than four,” Mr. Belfiore mused. “Ellis had many excuses for why he lost.”
“Yes, he did, but the only reason he lost is that he’s lousy,” Percy said and snickered.
Mr. Belfiore laughed, an easy, light laugh like he often shared with Glenn when they discussed golf anecdotes. And I couldn’t help but see my future. I’d become like Mama with Glenn. At one time, I thought that kind of life was great. That was until Rocco showed me a different world. And in a way, I hated that I’d seen it and now coveted it.
I fidgeted with the buttons on my sweater as fear slid through me and churned my stomach. Percy and my grandfather’s relationship seemed solid, and I had somehow underestimated it. Our wedding also seemed more likely to happen soon. Does Rocco know what’s going on? Does he even care?
I swallowed and turned away from the three of them to mask my own feelings of anguish I couldn’t dare show. It would only upset my grandparents. Besides, Rocco wanted out of the marriage, so why dwell on my heartbreak?
“So, how’s life treating you in New York City?” Mrs. Belfiore asked Percy in a light tone.
He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Not as good as North Carolina. There’s nothing like home.”
“Yes, but many are called to a greater purpose,” Mr. Belfiore said. “Yours is here in New York. You’re making great inroads here, shifting our courts in a moderate direction.”
Percy chuckled. “I am, but let’s not bore the girls with shoptalk.”
Grandmother’s smile went tight.
“True,” Mr. Belfiore said and clasped Percy’s shoulder. “Let’s have lunch.”
He went to my grandmother’s side, and they murmured to each other as they left the room, leaving me with Percy.
“Shall we, Miss Adelina?” He placed his hand on the small of my back.
I froze. Rocco threatened to break Janus in half for touching my face, but here was Percy already touching me. Rocco did the same…No, it was different . He came over and signed our marriage license.
I turned and peered at him. His blond hair had varying shades, something I hadn’t noticed before, though he styled it gelled back above his collar as in his online pictures.
He flicked his eyes down my body with a flirtatious smirk.
I turned away with a huff, but could still hear his soft chuckle. “I know I didn’t offend you by admiring your beauty, or are you playing shy?”
I grimaced. Percy didn’t seem the insecure type, and I had no idea why he thought I’d flirt with him. “I only just met you, Mr. Sterling.”
“Hmph. We’ll you’re no shrinking violet. We both know you’ve been living with Rocco Marini.” He snickered.
Heat flooded my cheeks, and I stopped walking. “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re a modern kind of woman, that’s all,” he said as if that explained it. But we resumed walking, and he kept his hands to himself this time.
We reached the dining room, and Percy held out my seat. Mr. Belfiore gave him an approving look as I sat down, making me believe Percy had done it more for him than me.
Servers brought out burrata salads, and Percy asked for a neat whiskey while we all chose sparkling water to have with our grilled white fish, salsa, and beans.
“I hadn’t realized you were a dry house,” Percy said, then took a sip and placed his glass back down.
“Not all of us,” Mr. Belfiore said. “Constance and I plan to go riding after our lunch. Adelina never drinks.”
“You concerned you’ll get your father’s demons?” he asked me, and I prickled while Mrs. Belfiore tutted.
Percy tapped his fingers on the table. “I hadn’t realized it was a touchy subject. Addiction is a plague in many families, and we Sterlings also have a few souls led astray: my uncle and two of my cousins. Rehab didn’t work for them but at least it helped your father, Adelina. That’s a blessing.”
I glared over at him, and pressed my lips together.
Mr. Belfiore coughed loudly. “Yeah, well, let’s not dwell on that subject,” he added in a cheery tone.
Percy nodded, grinning. “Of course. Let’s talk about good things. Y’all recently went to the Irish PGA?”
“Yes, we did,” Mr. Belfiore said with a curve of his lips. He latched onto the topic like a rope and tugged us along as he talked about everything that happened on their recent trip to the golf tournament. Our main course came, and Mrs. Belfiore and I ate while we listened to Mr. Belfiore and Percy talk to each other, which seemed to be how Percy preferred it. That was until there was a break in the conversation, and Mrs. Belfiore announced, “Adelina speaks four languages and paints.”
I blinked. Her comment surprised me, but I took it as a signal to Grandfather that he must steer the conversation back to me and Percy getting to know each other.
“You have a hobby , Adelina? That’s good,” Percy said with the enthusiasm given to an ugly picture a child made to put on the refrigerator.
“She illustrated a book,” Mrs. Belfiore said, smiling before sipping her water.
I blinked and cleared my throat. “Yes. I did a freelance illustration for a children’s book.”
“That’s…nice. I believe a woman must always keep her hands busy,” Percy added between bites. “Sewing is also a good skill to learn. You wouldn’t believe how many times my Mama had to mend my clothes.”
I smirked. Multi-billionaire mending clothes? It seemed odd, but I gathered the act of doing it was more than necessity. “I’m terrible with a needle and thread.”
“Don’t worry, Mama and my sisters will teach you,” he winked.
“Your mother’s hands were busy with the seven of you and now also with five grandchildren?” Mrs. Belfiore said in a slight tone.
“Yes, Ma’am. Five healthy, beautiful babies,” Percy said and chuckled. “All of us are strong in faith and duties. It’s a shame your family only has Adelina left to give birth to the next generation. But God only gives what we can handle. I know you can’t wait to have some grandkids to spoil on your own, so Adelina and I will not keep you waiting.”
I bristled and held my elbows. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Percy.
“Bless your heart,” Mrs. Belfiore quipped.
“Constance,” Mr. Belfiore scolded.
She lifted her chin. “I do want grandchildren as we all know. But I don’t want Percy to forget Adelina can be an asset to his judgeship and other political aspirations.”
Percy dabbed his mouth. “It’s okay, Reg. Constance is worried I’ll keep Adelina pregnant and not let her do anything else. But raising children is a full-time job that I respect. However, I assure you that she’ll have some pastimes to do other things.”
I also believed raising children is important, but the way Percy said it seemed more like control.
“That’s enough on that subject,” Mr. Belfiore interjected. “We didn’t bring Percy here to interrogate him.”
“It’ll take a lot more to offend me, Reg,” Percy said in a saccharine tone. “I’m not a tyrant. Heck, I’ll even let Adelina teach people how to draw. That must come in handy somewhere.”
He chuckled, and Grandfather joined in.
I pressed my lips together. I’ll be their baby machine and a sitter for his siblings. Then again, that was the life I had agreed to from the beginning.
Mr. Belfiore changed the subject to the new movies and concerts coming this fall. Grandmother loved documentaries. Grandfather orchestra, and Percy all sports. I didn’t have anything to add to the conversations but no one seemed to mind that I only nodded along. When lunch finally ended, I was relieved, and stood, extending my hand toward Percy after everyone had risen from our seats. “Nice to meet you.”
He stared at it and smiled. “I’m not leaving yet.”
I dropped my hand. “Oh?’
“That’s right. We’d like you to show Percy the new gazebo near the beach,” Mr. Belfiore announced. “This time of the year, the swans are out on the water.”
“Sounds lovely,” Percy said, then took my hand.
Mr. Belfiore’s eyes shifted between us. He smiled, then placed his hand on Mrs. Belfiore’s back, and they left the room.
Percy squeezed my hand to get my attention.
I startled. “What?”
He let go slowly, and stared at me, rubbing his jaw. “You look like a little kitten just weaned off the teat. You can handle a walk down by the water with the man that will be your husband?”
I swallowed and lifted my head. You’re my potential husband. But I could hear the doubt even in my mind. Tears stung the back of my eyes, and I took a deep breath. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart.
I gestured ahead. “Sure, let’s take a walk.”