A Question of Marriage (4 page)

“You should be in bed.”

Jordan glanced up to see Payton standing in the doorway and smiled. “I couldn’t take it anymore, between nurse Ratchet and my mother’s constant hovering, I was going stir crazy. I’d had enough of watching TV and reading those health magazines, she just happens to have in her purse.”

“She cares about
you. You’re her only son, she doesn’t want to lose you.” Payton said, walking further into the room.

“Yeah well, she’s driving me nuts and it needs to stop.
What are you doing here, I thought you were still out of town on that press junket?”

Payton hated those things but since a major award in film was about to be given
, the magazine had to cover it. She’d wanted to send one of the other reporters but decided to go herself. She needed a distraction, to get her mind off of almost losing her friend.

Removing his glasses
, Jordan briefly closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. Pushing the chair away from his desk he stood up and walked over to Payton, wrapping his arms around her pulling her close, Payton inhaled his fresh clean scent before he released her.

“I just got back, y
our mother called me, she mentioned something about you wanting to return to work. Do you think that’s wise, I mean you just got out of the hospital?”

“That was three weeks ago
, besides I feel fine. I have no complaints aside from the fact that the doctor put me on this diet, which means I can kiss loaded baked potatoes and T-bone steaks goodbye.”

“You can still eat other things you like, they just have to be baked or broiled.”

“If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s not working, let’s sit down.”

Following him
over to a black leather sofa they sat down together.

“I’m glad you’re here, I wanted to
finish that conversation we started at the hospital before we were interrupted.”

“What was that?”
As if she didn’t know.

“Us getting married,”

Payton nodded. “Oh that,”

“Yeah
that, have you changed your mind about helping me?”

“I wasn’t aware the
issue was still on the table.”

“Yeah, unfortunately it is.”
Jordan sighed.

“I’ll help you on one condition
. You forget about that prenuptial agreement you wanted me to sign.”

“Done, anything else?”

“Yeah, follow the doctor’s orders and stop being so stubborn.”

Jordan grinned. “I guess this means we’re getting married, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess it does god help us.” Payton sighed.

******************

“Payton, a Mr. Cain is here to see you.” The voice of her secretary said over the phone.

“Send him in Agnes,” Payton responded pushing the chair away from her desk standing.

A few moments later the door opened and J.D Cain walked in, dressed in a well-tailored navy blue suit with a silver polka dot tie and a matching silk handkerchief sticking out of the left breast pocket, black leather brogues on his feet, a black fedora covered his silver hair in his hand he held a cane with a silver horses head at the tip.

“What can I do for you
, Mr. Cain?” Payton asked, as she stepped around her desk.

“I’m here to talk to you about my son.”

“Please have a seat,” she gestured to the burgundy leather sofa.

“I’m not going to beat around the bush,” he began. “How much will it take f
or you to stay away from my son will two million be enough?”

Payton
was silent for a moment as she walked over to a chair several feet away from him and sat down. If he thought he could buy her off he had another thought coming.

When she didn’t respond he spoke. “Well?”

“Well what?” He wait for her to continue, but she didn’t say anything. “Have you nothing to say?”

“I don’t know whether you realize it or not but I’m not easily intimidated by men
like you, you know why? Being in this business, I’ve learned a few things. Number one, when the wealthy feel threatened by something, they think by throwing money at it, it’ll just go away. I’m thinking you consider me a problem correct?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Well here’s the thing, Mr. Cain, if you didn’t want Jordan to be with me, then why did you threaten to disinherit him if he didn’t find a woman to marry? Did you not think backing him into a corner would produce this kind of repercussions? I’m sure you were aware of our friendship, even before he invited me to your home, considering you keep such close tabs on his personal life.”

“I’m his father I’m only looking out for his best interest.”

“I’m guessing finding someone who meets with your approval correct?”

His expression changed slightly. “I’m glad you understand.”

“Oh I understand alright. I understand that you want to continue to manipulate and control your son. It’s as if you believe he’s incapable of making his own decisions. You don’t want him to be happy.”

J.D frowned. “That’s absurd
, of course I want him to be happy.”

“If that were the case
, then why did you put those stipulations on him?”

“I’m his father
, I’m only looking out for his best interests.”

“I’m guessing that would
be making sure he picks a “suitable woman”.”

“What’s wrong with wanting the best for my son?”

“What about what he wants, Mr. Cain? Does he not have a say in his own life?”

“Children don’t always know what’s best for them
, Miss Hollister, perhaps when you’re a parent you will understand.”

“When I have children
, Mr. Cain, they will be your grandchildren.”

He looked appalled by her statement. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“You won’t, it’ll be between me and your son.”

He gave her an assessing look. “You aren’t afraid of me
, are you?”

Payton stood up. “Let me tell you a story
, Mr. Cain, it’s about a girl who, when she was in third grade, was afraid to walk to school alone, you want to know why? She was afraid because of a bully, who was the tallest kid in her class and used that to her advantage by intimidating the smaller kids. That little girl was one of them. One day she decided that she wasn’t going to be afraid anymore, so the next day, when she saw the other girl she stood up to her, sure she got a black eye for her efforts, but the other girl got the message and never bothered her again. The next time she went to school, the girl befriended her. You remind me of the bully, Mr. Cain, throwing your wealth and status around, testing your adversaries to see if they can be easily intimidated by you. When that doesn’t work, you threaten them, so they’ll turn tail and run. Just like that bully, you don’t scare me. I actually pity you, you know why? You’re only doing what you were taught.”

J.D Senior looked dumbstruck. “You impertinent woman,”

“I don’t think so, what I am is a woman who cares about your son. Jordan is an adult, he doesn’t need your approval, but he would like your blessing.”

“Well he w
on’t get it,” J.D Senior declared, as he stood, grabbing his cane. “I see coming here was a waste of time, you refuse to see reason, good day, Miss Hollister.” and then he walked out.

Stepping back behind her desk
, Payton sank down in her chair, scrubbing her hands down her face, somehow she knew this situation was about to get much worse.

Payton made her way through Central Park’s west side entrance, where she was meeting Jordan. The sun had begun to set casting an orange glow on the nearly cloudless sky, a cool breeze blew`, causing the trees to sway, it was a beautiful autumn evening. She spotted Jordan a few minutes later, walking towards her. He met her halfway, greeting her with a smile and a brief kiss on the lips.

“You made it.”

“Of course, now tell me why we’re standing in the middle of Central Park on this chilly evening?” Payton asked wrapping her coat tighter around her body.

“Let’s take a walk.” h
e offered, taking her hand. Leading her along a path that led to a clearing near a pond, over to a bench, where they sat down.

“I asked you to come here to give you this.” Reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket he took out a square black box opening it to reveal a square
cut diamond ring. “I wanted to do this right,” he said removing the ring taking her hand and sliding it on her finger. “Now it’s official, we’re engaged.” Then he kissed her.

Payton stared at the 3.2 carrot sapphire ring
she remember admiring one day, in a local jewelry shop, then looked up at Jordan. “How did you know about this ring?”

Jordan shrugged. “Lucky guess, I saw it and thought of you.”

“It’s perfect, thank you.”

“Now
, all we have to do is set a date, how about in three months?”

“That’s too soon
. I don’t even have a dress and all the planning we have to do, not to mention telling my parents.”

“Don’t worry about it
. We’ll tell them together, and as for the dress, I had my secretary take care of the details.”

Payton frowned. “There are a few things wrongs with that, number one
, you do realize my father isn’t exactly your biggest fan and two, I will not have a stranger pick out my wedding dress.”

Jordan laughed. “I am aware of that but since I’m going to be his son
-in-law, we’re going to have to try and get along. As for the dress, I’ve arranged for you to have a private fitting, at my apartment they’re bringing dresses over in about…” he glanced at his watch. “An hour, which is why we need to get going,”

Standing
, he pulled out his cell phone and made a call. When they reached the entrance of the park, a shiny, black Lincoln town car, pulled up to the curb and stopped. The driver got out and opened the passenger door, Payton slid in onto the leather bench seats; Jordan followed.

As the driver maneuvered through evening traffic
, Payton glanced down at the ring on her finger. It was official, she and Jordan were engaged, she knew she should be happy, after all she was marrying the man she’d loved since the day he stormed into her office, all those years ago, too bad he didn’t share her feelings. He was just going through the motions to keep his job and his inheritance. She had a sinking feeling things wouldn’t go as planned.

******************

The following morning, Payton decided to drive out to her parents, to deliver the news before they heard it from the media. Aoleon and Marshall Hollister, still lived in her childhood home, located in the town of Laurelton Queens. The two story brick home, stood at the end of a dead-end street. Pulling her car into the driveway behind her father’s car, she turned off the engine and sat for a few minutes and stared out the window. She was glad Jordan had an emergency meeting with a client, so he wouldn’t be able to accompany her to deliver the news.

She
knew her father never approved of their friendship, saying he’d only bring nothing but trouble into her life. As many times as she kept reassuring him, he had nothing to worry about, her father would only cast her a look of doubt. The same one he’d given her, when she was eight years old and announced she was joining the circus. Releasing a sigh of resolution, she opened the door and got out.

Unlocking th
e door using her key, Payton was greeted with the smell of freshly baked bread and other delicious aromas. Making her way through the living room to the kitchen, she found her mother standing in front of the stove, stirring a pot in the newly renovated kitchen.

“Hey Mom,”

Aoleon Marshall turned around, seeing her daughter, her face lit up. She was a slim, petite woman, with a short pixie haircut, creamy caramel skin, green eyes with silver rims and a pert nose. She was wearing a navy blue pant suit, underneath a floral print apron. Payton always thought her mother was beautiful.

“Hey baby, what are you doing here, everything okay?”

“Yeah, where’s daddy?”

“He’s out in the garage; you know your father and his projects.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, trying to quell the nervousness in her stomach Payton spoke.

“I have some news.”

“What is it?”

Before Payton could reveal her secret
, the back door opened and her father appeared, Marshall Hollister was five foot eight, solidly built, with cocoa brown skin, dark brown eyes and graying black hair, he kept in a military crew cut. A retired NYPD detective, he kept himself in excellent shape running five miles daily.

“Well
, look whose here,”

“Hi D
addy,”

“Marsh, Payton stopped by to give us some news.”