A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 19

On Saturday I had my lunch date with Chad Paxton.

My mother had Marta do my hair for me, and I wore a nice blouse and skirt.

All I could think about was seeing Valerie afterwards.

"You look lovely." my mother said to me, "Chad should be here soon, we've arranged the tea room for the two of you. I think you'll enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you, mother." I said.

The tea room was a smaller, beautifully decorated room where my mother often hosted her friends or wives of other "elite" husbands for tea. I knew that her and Headley were having tea together pretty often lately as well.

The thought of having to do that one day- host wives of other men for tea time- made me almost sick to my stomach.

As I made my way over to the tea room, I ran into Ken.

"Are you about to go on your date with Chad?" he asked me.

"I am." I said.

"I hope you have a nice time." Ken said, giving me a polite smile.

"Thanks, Ken." I said.

Ken looked like he wanted to say something else. But instead he gave me a pat on the shoulder and walked away.

I sat in the tea room for a few moments, which had a full pot of hot tea, sandwiches, and pastries on the table, with the door open, until I saw Chad being walked over by a butler, Marvin.

"Thanks, Marvin." Chad said, "This place is so big I would've gotten lost."

"My pleasure." Marvin said, and tipped his hat toward me.

I smiled at him, and then turned my attention to Chad. "Chad, it is lovely to see you. Thank you so much for joining me."

Chad sat down across from me. He had on a gray button down and a green coat, and his hair was slicked back.

"Of course, Lucy." Chad said, "I can't miss an opportunity to get to know my future wife better."

Ugh.

"Tell me more about yourself, Chad." I said, trying to sound as welcoming as possible. "Would you like for me to pour us some tea?"

"Yes, please." Chad said. He took a sandwich as well and put it on his plate in front of him.

As I poured us each a cup of hot tea, he started talking about himself.

And he kept talking about himself.

And didn't ask me any questions about myself. I listened to what he had to say, and tried to relate in ways myself, but anything I said- he brushed off and hardly acknowledged it.

Jeez, mother. You could've at least chosen someone better.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know your family more." Chad said to me after telling me about how he had the best grades in his prep school. "Your brother seems like a great guy."

"Which one?" I asked him.

"Ken, of course. Sorry, I always forget you have another brother as well." he said.

"Eric is quite wonderful too." I said.

"I'm sure he is." Chad said, "But I am looking forward to getting to know Ken. He is going to be the King, after all."

"That he is." I said, "Hopefully not for a long time though."

"Of course, of course." Chad nodded, "I did actually have a question for you."