Chapter 21
Gabriel: #NotForSale
M om pulls me away from Nora and Sophia, and I reluctantly follow. My heart is still pulsating from that kiss and all I want right now is to take her upstairs to my room and do things to her that make her forget everything and everyone except us.
“So, you and Nora, huh?” Mom asks, stopping and facing me. “How did you two decide to, y’know, get together, after so many years of… well, being together? What changed?”
She’s smiling, but I can see it’s a fake smile. She’s trying to see if I’m serious about this, but this is a question I’m prepared for.
“Well, it was actually because of Paula.”
“Paula? The one you were with till… what… a day or was it hours, before you started supposedly seeing Nora?”
I sigh. The way she says it, it all sounds so frivolous. But it isn’t. In fact, what she’s planning is frivolous—trying to get me to marry a girl I barely know.
“When I broke up with Paula, and it was a long time coming, she asked me why I’ve never been in a long-term relationship. Why I never let a woman come close enough to me? You know what she said? She said it was because I love Nora. Because I’ve always loved her.”
Mom is shaking her head. She opens her mouth to say something, but I beat her to it.
“And you know what? She was right. That was probably the only sensible thing she said in our relationship. The one sentence that’ll hopefully be the turning point in my life.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t be so na?ve as to believe it if I were you. If anything had to happen between the two of you, it would’ve happened long ago. This is probably a case of rebound for you both. But anyway, we’ll talk about it again in a couple of weeks. Now, Sophia, on the other hand, is more of wife material, I’d say, especially for you.”
“Please, Mom. Don’t.” I guess my expression shows the seriousness by which I mean the words because she stops. “And, why did you lie about Nora’s mom and sister not being able to make it? You know we’ll be meeting them too, right?”
“Well, it was the polite thing to say. Wouldn’t it have been rude to say I didn’t invite them?”
“Why didn’t you? You knew Nora was joining me. And they live right on the adjacent street.”
“Two streets down. But whatever. Look around you, Gabriel,” she says, as I follow her gaze across the room. “You think they would’ve fitted well here? Would they be comfortable?”
Wow! I can’t believe her. How much she has changed. She never said that when Nora’s mom helped me out with my projects, when she never had the time to do that. When her mom sent cookies for the bake sale because my mom forgot about it. She did that despite all the problems in her home, with her husband and everything. I feel sick to my stomach.
I look at her with disbelief and disappointment. I hope it’s evident on my face as well. “Really? I’ll just pretend I never heard that.”
She pulls me into the study and shuts the door behind her. “Look, Gabriel. I love you and I want only what’s best for you, right? And that is Sophia.”
“Why? Why her? I don’t even know her.”
“Because her family owns a large business in France and she’ll inherit it after her dad. Because you and her being together is what your grandfather wanted before he died, and he made me promise that you two would get married to each other.”
“What?” Jesus! It is true then. “I don’t care what you promised to a man I never met when he was alive. And I don’t think you have the right to make promises about my life without even consulting me. It was not a promise I made. So I’m sorry, Mom, but it’s not happening.”
“You don’t understand. It has to happen.”
“Why?”
She exhales a deep breath and sits on the chair while I keep standing with my back resting on the wall, looking down at her. “Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Your grandfather and Monsieur Martin Sr, Sophia’s granddad were best friends, almost like brothers. Papa wanted me to marry Sophia’s father, but I didn’t. Then when you were born and Martin Jr had Sophia, they decided the families could come together as one if you both were to marry each other and I agreed to it.”
I take a few seconds to absorb this. I mean, it sounds so preposterous.
“What if I don’t? How can others decide about my life? Who gave you or your dad the right to it? If you care for me even a little, please don’t manipulate my life. I’m joining the family business as you always wanted. But please leave my personal life to me. And granddad? I mean, he never even met me. How could he even think he had any say in how I live my life? He never did a thing for me.”
“How do you think we paid for your grad school? Or how have you been going on your vacations? You don’t think George’s salary would let us afford all that, do you? It was because of Papa’s money. Don’t be such an ingrate and not honor his last wishes.”
“I didn’t ask for it. I was happy enough without those vacations and I’d never have accompanied you on them if I knew the price was my liberty. Why are we even having this silly discussion? True, he left you some bit of money after his death but that doesn’t mean he bought you, or me, or our lives. If you think that, you’re in for a shock. Because guess what? I’m not for sale.”
There’s a knock on the door, and I hear Dad’s voice calling for us. Mom stands up, adjusts her dress, spreads her lips into a smile, and opens the door.
“It’s time for dinner. What are you both conspiring over here?” he yells and bursts into a raucous laugh. I guess he’s had a drink too many.
“C’mon. Let’s eat,” Mom says, and taking Dad’s hand, leads him to the table.
As expected, Mom has arranged the table, so I’m sitting next to Sophia, while Nora is sitting on the opposite side, next to someone I’ve never met. I barely talk during the meal. I don’t care what Sophia and Mr. whoever-is-sitting-to-my-left think of me.
Does Sophia know what our parents have planned for us? It’s sick, but maybe if she’s also not in agreement with it, we can amicably put it all behind us.
As soon as the dinner is over, Nora excuses herself to call Carla and see if we can go and meet her. I grab the opportunity and take Sophia to the garden to ask her.
“So, Nora’s cute,” she says, breathing in the cool air. “I saw her taking pictures of the food before eating. She into photography?”
I chuckle. “Nah. Just into social media. She’s got quite a following there.”
“Yeah. She has a good following. She’s getting into food blogging as well now?”
“She’s into everything. From fashion to food, to gaming to digital marketing. Her life, in general. She has strong opinions and makes them known. She’s not scared to call out people if they’re doing something wrong or unethical. A woman pure of heart. They’re difficult to see in these times.”
“Ahem! You seem to be smitten by her. Surprising that you’ve known her for so long, but started dating her only now, given that you feel so strongly about her.”
I shrug. “There’s a time for everything. I guess her and mine is now.”
“Yeah, probably. For six months maybe. Isn’t that your usual girlfriend time?”
“Excuse me?”
“Isn’t it true you’ve never had a girlfriend for over six months? I mean, I’m not judging. I haven’t had a relationship for more than a few months myself. But that’s how we have to be, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. It’s not that we’re free to marry who we choose, so why get into that mess? Get out before it gets too complicated. That’s my mantra. I guess that’s yours too. I see why our granddads thought we’d be good for each other. We think alike.”
“So, you know?”
“What? Our arranged marriage? Yes. Of course.”
“And you’re okay with it? We don’t even know each other.”
I can’t believe it. What the hell is wrong with her?
She shrugs. “How does it matter? I don’t believe in all that soulmate crap. I think any two people can live together and be decently happy if other things are taken care of. Our businesses will do better if we work together. We can stay in Paris. My house is enormous. So is your ancestral house. We can visit here once or twice a month so you can still meet up with your friends while taking care of the business here.”
She seems to have it all planned out. Gosh! Others seem to have given my future and my life more thought than I ever have. It’s crazy. It is, right? Crazy, I mean. Or am I going a little nutty?
“You seem to have given this a lot of thought.” The words finally emerge from my mouth. “But you can’t be serious about it. I mean, I don’t believe in soulmates and stuff myself, but I believe in compatibility and to figure that out, knowing each other is a must. As of now, I find it equivalent to cheating if I think about you or any other woman, given that I’m with Nora. So, I guess, what I’m trying to say is that… this… us… isn’t something I can even think about right now.”
I see Nora looking at us through the window with a weird expression on her face. It looks like a mix of anger, disappointment, and something else. But my brain is too busy with my life’s mess to think much about it.
“You don’t have to think about it right now. Looks like your girlfriend doesn’t like that you’re here with me,” Sophia remarks, giving me a very uncalled-for peck on the cheek before sashaying inside.
I wave to Nora and beckon her outside. “Shall we leave?” I ask. “Did you speak to Carla?”
“Well, about that. Apparently, Kevin has moved in with them and he’s converted my room into his makeshift office. So my bed isn’t there anymore. Carla was offering for me to take their room and they’ll sleep on the mattress, but I said no. I figured I could stay here tonight and see them tomorrow. Hope that’s okay.”
“Sure. There has to be a spare room here. Don’t worry about it.”
We go inside. Most of the guests have taken their leave. I don’t see Sophia anywhere. I guess she’s gone too. Mom is sending the last ones out on their way.
Dad comes over to us. “Nora, I’m thrilled you joined us today. It’s always such a pleasure to meet you. You’re like sunbeams after a storm.”
“Oh, George,” Nora says. “I’m always happy to be here. Always was and always will be.”
“So you planning to meet Carla and your mom tonight? That’s what Gabs was saying. It’s late. Maybe you should go tomorrow.”
She nods. “Yeah. We were thinking the same thing.”
Perfect time to ask him which room I should settle her in. But that gets cleared in the next instant.
“You two lovebirds can’t stay away even for a few hours?” He winks. “But I understand. Ah, to be young and to be in love. The best feeling ever. Go on. I won’t keep you longer.”
Well, of course. We are a couple now, fake or real doesn’t matter. It’s not like old times anymore. Of course, she’ll be staying in my room.
“Night Dad,” I say and walk upstairs toward my room, my heart pounding, followed by a hesitant Nora.