Chapter 11 #2
“I’m busy. Call me later,” he said to whoever was on the line, then he slipped his phone into his pocket. “Karsyn, I presume.” His deep tenor greeted me as he moved toward the table, eyes locked on me.
I nodded. “Yes, and you are Seth.”
He chuckled, then pulled my chair out for me to sit. Seconds later he rounded the table and sat across from me.
After a brief silence of us looking at one another, a nervous giggle escaped my lips. “I have never done this before. Like ever. So excuse my apprehension.”
“No need, me neither. How about I tell you about myself and you tell me about yourself. Then we go from there?”
I nodded. “I’d like that.” From that moment he went in depth about his childhood, his life, and his family.
He was so different, yet so similar to everyone here even though he didn’t live here.
He came here on business but lived in a town in Michigan.
His late father did business with Charles from time to time, so that was how this came about.
Seth was thirty-five, the oldest of four, and came from a family with deep roots in the oil industry.
A Leo, sort of a workaholic, and heavy into traveling.
On paper he sold well, but there was something empty about his eyes.
Then I told him about myself minus my current situation. I kept it light, but in a way selling myself to this man like I needed him, which I didn’t. Did I?
“So, if you don’t mind me asking, why this route to find a wife?”
He chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m a workaholic. I need a marriage without all the foreplay. Bedroom foreplay is fine but dating and all that extra shit doesn’t pique my interest. It’s boring and I have better things to sink my attention into.”
“So what you’re saying is you don’t have time for a marriage.” I didn’t mean to frown, but I did.
“Not that at all. I don’t have time for the beginning stages, but once we’re in it, then we’re in it. I’ll give you the whole experience, doting husband, insatiable, and only eyes for you.”
What he said seemed rehearsed, but then again, maybe I was thinking too much into this.
“Now what about you? Why this route for you?” Those piercing eyes were on me, studying me.
“Because my father is a bastard.”
He chuckled. “You don’t hold back, do you?”
I shook my head. “But I have a question. One that’s unorthodox as fuck but I find myself in a predicament that may make all of this useless.”
“I’m listening.”
“Could you raise and love another man’s child as if it were your own?”
He paused, his facial expression never changing as he stared at me, then after what felt like forever or four hands of spades, he spoke. “You’re pregnant.”
I nodded.
“Does he know?”
“Who? My father or the father?”
“Both.”
I shook my head.
“Then the answer to your question is yes, as long as I'm the only father that child knows and there is no threat of anyone else being in the picture.”
“Why?”
“Because we all have baggage and conflicting situations in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t make us any less meaningful or present.”
“Okay.”
He then smiled. “Did I pass?”
“You did alright.” I couldn’t hide my grin because he was definitely charming.
“Now, since I think we’ve established that this is happening, I assume this needs to happen soon, given you’re carrying what will be our first child.”
“Yeah, do you prefer a big wedding or can it be smaller?”
“All of that is of your preference. You say we get married next week, then we’ll marry next week. I do have one simple request though.”
“And that is?” I asked, feeling like the other shoe was about to drop because up until this point he seemed too damn perfect.
“I understand your entire life is here, but mine and most of my business is in Michigan, and it’s a great place to raise a family. I would like you to move there with me after we are married. You can visit here as much as you want. This is your home, but I’d like to build another one there.”
There was the shoe… He wanted me to leave Briar.
I stood in the mirror questioning everything about myself. In the last week I had not only planned a whole wedding but also made peace with the fact that everything about me would be changing soon.
The white princess style dress wasn’t me, but no matter how finished the dress I had been working on for years was, I couldn’t push myself to wear it. So I settled on this last minute. It was just a dress right?
Seth was handsome, but he wasn’t Posydiann…but I didn’t have Posydiann.
I didn’t know much about Seth, but he was out of all of this. Marrying him would give my child what I couldn’t and it would help my brother.
“You know you don’t have to do this, right?” My mother’s voice crept into my eardrum.
I turned and looked at her. I felt like I wanted to cry, but I was all cried out. I only had action left in me.
She grabbed my hands. “You know you look beautiful. Just like my mother when she married my father and me when I married your father. You’re unhappy, but beautifully.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“But…”
“Have you even talked to your brother? He’s hurt, Karsyn, and he doesn’t know why you’re doing this.”
I shook my head and wiped my tears. “I’m doing it because I want to.”
My mother shook her head. “Bullshit.”
“Mama, I just need to do this.” I pleaded with her knowing she wasn’t going for any of this.
“No. Tell me what’s going on, Karsyn. One minute you’re home for two weeks crying and the next you’re about to marry a random man I know nothing about. He isn’t even who you were about to introduce me to.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“And what? He’s the father?” She peered at me intently.
I shook my head. It pained me. “Mama, I’m doing this fo—”
“For what, Karsyn? Do you even know this man or has your father talked you into some mess?”
“Ma.”
“You don’t have to do this, to give your child a family. He or she will have a family.”
I just looked at her.
“What is it, Karsyn? What made you so ready to marry this man? I am your mother and I know you. Tell me what and we’ll fix this. I made this mistake for the both of us and you see how this turned out. Why, baby girl?”
“It’s because I jus—”
There was a knock at the door immediately followed by a voice. “Karsyn, they’re ready for you.”
“Look, we can leave through the back door if need be. Baby, you are not happy.”
I gripped her hands tighter. “I love you, Mom, but please stop worrying. Everything will be fine. Just let me do this.”
She studied my features for a moment longer before she nodded. Finally, she conceded. “Okay.”
I turned around and gave myself another once over. I hated this dress with a passion. Shit, maybe because I had already designed my wedding dress and it was on a mannequin in my studio, untouched…unworn.
I closed my eyes then turned to go toward the door. “I’m ready.”
“Then let’s go get married.” My mother’s voice made me look at her. I loved this woman with everything in me. Even though she wasn’t onboard with this, she would support me regardless. I knew Kolton was mad at me right now, but at some point he’d get over it. I hoped he would.
My mother handed me the bouquet of flowers and moved to open the door. Outside stood my father, looking like a big ass Oompa Loompa in all white.
“It’s rude to wear white when you aren’t the bride.” My mother rolled her eyes at the sight of my father.
He shrugged then extended his arm for me to loop mine into it.
We began to walk toward where the wedding was taking place and I swore the entire place had me in awe.
I toured this place one time with the wedding planner, half listening to her ideas Monday, then boom, here we were.
We were literally in a palace with flowers everywhere.
It wasn't to my taste, but it was beautiful for the dove releasing type.
“For what it’s worth, you look much better than you did that day you stormed into my office.”
I side eyed him. Says the nigga walking around looking like a damn cloud.