A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

Behind her, a grim-faced older gentleman flanked by a younger woman and a man who looked slightly younger than Julian, walked slower but with no less purpose in their direction.

To her surprise, Julian took her left hand in his and held it close to his side. He fumbled with her fingers even as he looked up with a welcoming smile. It looked completely forced to Nina, but the woman didn’t seem put off.

Abby went past them.

The woman, who Nina recognized as Abby and Julian’s mother, threw her arms around Abby. “Oh sweetheart, you are here!” the woman said.

“Yes mom, we are here” Abby replied, smiling and hugging her mother tightly, then she moved to hug her father too.

The woman threw her arms around Julian, and still, he didn’t let go of Nina’s hand. He returned her embrace with his free arm and said, “Hello, Mom. I told you I was coming.”

“I know, but after Loveth told me she’d been to see you and when she told me that…..”

She broke off and looked curiously at Nina, whose hand was still securely held in Julian’s.

Then his mom looked back at Loveth, confusion clear in her eyes.

“But my dear, you told me that Julian wasn’t seeing anyone, that he just told me that to ease my concern.”

“Did she?” Julian asked in an even tone. He pinned Loveth with a stare that would have had Nina fidgeting.

His mom nudged him impatiently. “Well, introduce us, Julian.”

“Yes, do introduce us,” Loveth said in a chilly voice.

Abby moved forward. “Mom, don’t you remember Nina? My best friend from high school? She and her family moved the year we were supposed to graduate” she said.

About the time Nina felt Julian’s grip on her hand tighten and the cool metal slide over her finger, Nina regretted having agreed to come. She tried to look down, wondering what Julian had done to her finger, but he kept his hand over hers. Awkward didn’t begin to cover it. She felt as if she’d just entered a minefield.

“Oh.” Julian’s mother said to her. “I can’t believe it. Oh dear, you look so different… And so beautiful. I’m so sorry i didn’t recognize you”

“That’s alright, Mrs Martin. Mr Martin.” Nina replied. “It’s so nice to see you both ag….”

“Yes,” Julian interrupted. “Mom. Dad. Loveth. Sam.” His lips curled when he said the last and Nina zeroed in on the man in question. He had to be Julian’s cousin. “I would like you to meet-” His entire body tensed and he gripped her hand almost painfully. It was like he was sending her a silent message. “I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Nina Taylor.”

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Nina froze. There was a horrible buzz in her ears, and she stared in horror at Julian. She hadn’t heard him right. What kind of idiotic thing had he just done?

She wasn’t sure who was more stunned. Her or his family. Abby looked shocked. Loveth looked as if she just swallowed a lemon. Sam looked annoyed, while Julian’s father simply frowned.

His mom was the only person who actually seemed happy about the bomb.

“Oh, Julian, that’s wonderful!” she said.

Nina found herself in the older woman’s arms and was hugged so tight that she was in danger of passing out.

“I’m so happy about this, my dear, and you can call me Elizabeth. Mrs. Martin just sounds so formal and we’re going to be family after all.”

She held Nina out at arm’s length and beamed at her. Then she proceeded to kiss her on both cheeks and if that wasn’t enough, she yanked her into another long hug.

This was insane. Julian was insane. His entire family was nuts. She opened her mouth to blast Julian with both barrels and ask him what the hell kind of stunt he was trying to pull when Julian’s father put his hand on Julian’s shoulder to steer him away from the women.

“Come with me and we’ll get you checked in and get your keys. Then you can take Nina up to the room.”

Julian looked a little reluctant to leave her. She could well imagine why.

It was then that she remembered her finger. He’d put something on her finger.

She looked down. Holy cow! He’d slipped a huge diamond engagement ring on her finger while he’d held her hand. Fury simmered in her veins. She mentally counted to ten just so she didn’t explode on the spot. The bastard had planned this all along. No one carried around a rock like this for the hell of it.

She stared at Abby, asking with her eyes what the hell was going on. Abby shrugged. She looked confused too, then she went in the same direction Julian and father had taken.

“You two go on ahead and be seated. Order our drinks. Nina and I will be along in just a moment. I want the chance to speak to her for a moment.” Martha said.

Elizabeth

Nina regarded Julian’s mom warily as she shooed Sam and Loveth on toward the hotel restaurant.

When they’d disappeared, only after Loveth had glared enough holes in Nina to rival a hunk of Swiss cheese, Julian’s mom seized Nina’s hands and squeezed affectionately.

“Oh, my dear, I’m so thrilled that you are here. How is your family? I can’t tell you how fantastic your news is. I was so worried about Julian. He didn’t take Loveth’s defection very well, but look at you! So gorgeous. I can see why my son was so taken with you.”

Nina opened her mouth and halted. What on earth could she say? With every word that poured out of the other woman’s mouth, the more furious Nina became and the more sickened she was by Julian’s deception.

This was some huge soap opera. Things like this didn’t happen in real life. Even in really wealthy people’s lives, surely. Nina’s heart sank. Julian’s mom was a really wonderful lady and super kind hearted… she always had been, which only made her angrier that Julian had just lied to her. What the hell had he been thinking?

But then Elizabetha’s other statement came back to her. The part about Loveth’s defection, and suddenly it all made sense.

“Loveth and Julian were involved?” Wendy asked.

Elizabeth colored slightly and looked abashed. “Oh, heavens, I’ve said too much. I always do have a problem with just prattling on. Do forgive me.”