Marriage by Law (17 page)

After nearly another hour, making us
 
really
 
late, Ma had finally finished helping me get ready. 

"There," she said as she placed the final pin on my hair. I winced as I looked in the mirror, wanting to pull it out. It hurt and I could feel one of the strands in the wrong way, which was tugging at everything.

"It hurts," I complained, hoping Ma would remove that pin.

"There, there, child, you'll be fine. And you look stunning, my dear," she said, smiling as she grabbed the back of my shoulders to turn me around. I frowned. 

It was a floor-length lace dress with a scoop neck and sleeveless and made out of tulle. It had a champagne bodice with black lace design over it, black tulle at the bottom, and the champagne colour running all the way down the bottom. 

I wore simple spiral earrings that Ma had picked out, which only succeeded in making me worry that I might accidental pull them out. 

I was still looking at myself in the mirror when I heard someone say, "Hurry up, we’re- Hot…" 

I looked over as Adrian stood at the door, nodding in approval.

"Late, yes, I know. Let's go." I slipped into my simple black heels that had one small crystal that shone when the light hit it but it was covered by my floor-length dress.

Darius was waiting downstairs as Adrian and I both ran down the stairs, being yelled at by Ma to take it easy before I rip the ruffle of the dress. I rolled my eyes. It was only a dress. I can imagine my mother’s face if she saw me rip this dress.

"Let's go," said Adrian, bursting out the front door ahead of us.

"What's his hurry?" I asked, looking up at Darius whose eyes met mine.

"He's hungry. Don't know why he's in a hurry. You know, Miss Alvin is cooking," he said and I wrinkled my nose as I remembered the last time I was in her party. Hopefully, she didn't try and make me eat one of those pastries.

Darius placed his hand on my back, gently pushing me toward the car. "You look…good," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. I bit my lip trying not to smile at his awkwardness.

"Thanks," I said as I got in the car where Adrian was studying a bar of a chocolate or something.

"How old is this?" he asked Darius who just got inside. Darius shrugged.

"I think it's gone bad," said Adrian as he ate the last bite. He was crazy. If  he ended up getting food poisoned, we’ll know why. 

 I didn't realise how late we were till we walked in and most people stopped to look at who it was. A few came to say hello and greet us, with the men standing on either side of me: Darius talking to some man and Adrian looking around.

"Where's the food?" he asked, looking down at me and I shrugged. Now I wondered about the same thing. Where was the food?

"Oh Ivory, darling, you look so lovely. And Darius, I'm glad you both made it." We looked up as Miss Alvin came to us with her arms outstretched. She squeezed me into a hug, one as tight as Jeremy's.

"Sorry we're late," I said as she pulled back laughing.

"At least you made it," she said. Linking my hand with hers, she dragged me away. I looked back at the two, wanting to scream 'help'.

After half an hour of introductions, she finally left me and I found my way to the table where Alicia was sitting. She was looking around and did a double take when she saw me. She rushed over to me, giggling and ushering me to her seat.

"Damn, girl, you look beautiful," she complimented as she eyed me up and down. I could feel my cheeks turning red. She was wearing a bright pink and white gradient dress with a crystal belt; she seemed to pull off the bold colour very well.

"I bet Darius was lost for words when he saw you, eh," she said, winking and nudging me . I shook my head at her. "How was your trip?"

I opened my mouth but closed it when Jake, Adrian and Darius joined the table. Adrian brought with him a plate full of quiches.

"Oh, can I have one?" asked Alicia as Adrian took a big bite.

He looked at her funny, then said, "Get your own."

We were so shocked by his rudeness that we just stared at him.

"Gentleman, you can't keep the ladies hungry," said Miss Alvin, coming over our table carrying a massive plate of pastries and placing one on each of our plates. Alicia and I exchanged a look. The pastry looked raw on the bottom and burnt on top and the middle. We wouldn't know what we’d find till we open it.

"It’s my famous rum and banana pie."

I nearly gagged. Rum and banana?

"Eat up," she sang as she moved on. Alicia and I both stared at our plates. 

"You think it's edible?" Alicia asked, touching the top of her pie with her finger.

"I don't know. I dare you to eat some." It was childish, but I couldn’t dive right into the pie. She looked at me with eyes wide. 

"No way. You first."

"If you do it, I will," I said. She bit her lip, looking around and back down to her plate. I looked down at my own plate.

"You first," she said and I nodded. Fine. 

How bad can a pie be?

Just as I was about to reach for the pie, I saw Darius reach for it, but somebody beat him to it. From behind me, a hand connected to an arm covered in a bright red sleeve picked the pie up off my plate. I stared at the plate in confusion and looked at Darius who was staring at someone behind me. Then he broke into a smile. 

I turned around in my chair, looking up to see who it was who took the pie. I felt all the blood drain from my face. 

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It felt as though my heart stopped beating as I met the blue eyes that stared back. 

"James," said Darius, breaking the silence that seemed to go on forever but was really a brief second or two. 

James held out the pie and Darius laughed, shaking his head. "How have you been?" he asked.

 "Heartbroken since someone didn't reply to my phone calls all week," he replied. Darius laughed uncomfortably as he stood up. So James was the one calling?

Right now, I would have preferred a skinny–size, negative nine supermodel calling him instead. James's eyes looked down, meeting mine, and I turned around in my seat as they continued talking, trying to ignore my beating heart. 

Alicia looked at me, her eyes brows furrowing.

"Are you okay?" Alicia asked and I jumped in surprise.

"Oh yea. No, I just… Isn't it hot in here?" I asked, fanning myself for emphasis. She raised her eyebrows and I bit my lip, looking around.

"I'm going to get some fresh air." Without waiting for her reply, I stood up. 

"Ooh, me too. I’ll come with you," she said, looking at the pie distastefully before standing up.

I didn't want her to come but she followed me as I made my way outside. The air was relaxing and I greedily sucked it in. What was he doing here?

Of course, he was Miss Alvin’s son. All the times I had been with him, not once had he mentioned family or names even. What happened to being an
orphan?
I knew I should have doubted him then. We had been together longer than I could remember and he had been to my house a million times and met my parents but I had never really met his. Well, probably because he told me he was an orphan.

"Are you okay?"

I looked at Alicia with a nod and felt the hot sting at the back of my throat. Oh god, Ivory, don't cry now. 

Alicia continued when I remained quiet. ”Because you look like you saw a ghost."

I let out a nervous laugh. I was expecting her to say that because, in fact, I did see a ghost. A ghost of my past. 

"There you are."  

I looked to see Miss Alvin walking toward us.

"My son’s here somewhere. I was going to introduce him but then you ladies left. Never mind. At dinner I will introduce you. That reminds me, are you both hungry?"

I shook my head, surreptitiously signaling at Alicia to say no. Oh dear, no more pies.

"Oh good. James gave me this brilliant idea. He said not everyone would like seafood so I have the chef cook some other food, so hopefully it should be done soon. Smart boy. I have never imagined someone not liking seafood," she said and I nodded vigorously.

Of course, he asked to change the menu. I could feel my nails digging into my skin.

"You ladies head back inside before you get sick. Off you go, both of you. Dinner should be soon, hopefully," she said, making gestures with her hands to shoo us back inside.

Alicia shrugged her shoulders and grabbed my arm, pulling me inside. Instead of taking me toward the table, she took me to an isolated parlour room. She closed the door behind us.

"Alright, girly, speak," she said, crossing her arms and waiting.

"About what?"

"You know exactly what. Trust me, I know that look," she snapped.

I collapsed on the couch behind me and placed my head in my hands.

I have to tell someone, and I might as well start with her. 

 "You should tell Darius."

I looked up at her, with a “was she serious”? look. 

"I can't."

"Of course you can. It's simple. You go up to him and tell him everything, Ivory, or else-"

"No way," I said, shaking my head.

"You know that he'll find out sooner or later. It's better with you telling him than James filling his head up with stuff."

I sighed, not sure what to do. She was right. I need to tell him, but I don't want to.

What if he judged me for it? We were finally getting on good terms and I don't want to ruin it.

"I will, just not now."

"No. Do it now. Did you know that Darius just accepted him as a business partner?"

"What?" I asked, half-yelling as I looked up at her in utter surprise. She nodded, twirling one of her locks in her fingers.

"They're still talking about it. Darius hasn’t fully accepted him as a partner yet. And from what you have told me, James would bring the company down. I was surprised when Jake told me. I didn't quite believe it myself."

I tapped my foot impatiently on the ground. This wasn't good. Wasn't good at all, but how was I supposed to tell him?

"We should get back," I said, standing up.

Alicia stood up as well and went for the door. "Ivory, you need to tell him. He deserves to know," she said.

"I will," I said, leaving out the part when I would tell him. I mean I'll get to it, just not now. 

By the time we went back, people were sitting back down for dinner. How long had we been away? I plastered a fake smile as we walked back and Alicia stared at me. James seemed to have disappeared and Jake and Darius were talking.

"There you both are. We were about to send out a search party," said Jake as we approached them.

Alicia laughed, waving a hand. "Please, we were admiring the garden," she said, the lie slipping out so easily.