A Secret Vow

2 Meeting Edmund

          I stayed up stairs and paced as I tried to figure out what they were saying downstairs. I finally got the courage to step out of my room and peeped through the railing. I saw a couple in their late 60s, greeting and hugging my parents with joy. My dad, patting the old mans back and calling a maid to fetch them cigarettes. My mom was laughing with the old women, while a man laughed along.

Wait.

Is it him?

My so called "husband to be"?

My mother called my name and I jumped up and pat my dress down. I straighten up and took a deep breath.

Okay.

I carefully started walking down the stairs.

He's tall. Very tall.

He looked much older than me. Maybe in his 30s. His skin is the colour of caramel and his hair slick back. He has a brown beard that would make my friends swoon.

I noticed how defined his body looked in that black tux.

Almost distracting.

I look back down and focus on my foot work. I take the last step down and look up. We make eye contact.

Hazel green eyes. Charming.

" Lilium doesn't he have the most charming eyes? Doesn't he? Doesn't he? ". I reply " yes he does ". Quite frankly he does. My dad out of everyone was showing the  most amazement by constantly patting him on the back, calling him "son" and "my boy" at least every minute. The parents made us sit facing each other and it was like they almost separated us from the table even though we were all at the same one. I'm pretty good at conversation starters so I asked him why he was so dark. For the readers knowledge, him and his parent are all Italian. He laughed with all his white teeth visible and told me "I just came back from Egypt for my research". So I asked him a bunch of questions about travel to keep the conversation going. As he answered each question I tried to picture us together. As a couple. As a family. But I was interrupted by loud laughter coming from our fathers. Noticing the empty glasses of once poured alcohol- I sensed trouble.

The old man yelled "O Robert isn't my boy just stunning!" (Robert being my father, and for less confusion my mothers name is Susan) "Why of course Edmund is a smart and handsome fellow!" My father replied. I do not disagree with some of there compliments but I find them quite over the top. "He's just such a good son, unlike that good for nothing bastard! Useless!". His wife who was once smiling, suddenly showed a frown and smacked his back and told him to be quiet. The air was filled with awkwardness for a few seconds, but was covered by my moms gifted talent of being fake. Jumping off her chair and showing everyone her new art pieces she had just so recently bought. Both families got up in curiosity and walked toward them. As if that commentary never happened.

But it was still on my mind. Stuck to me.

Edmund pulled his hand toward me and I reached out to grab it.

Who is this man he speaks of?

I grab Edmund's hand and give him a effortless smile.

As we walk toward the art pieces I wondered, who is this good for nothing bastard? This useless man?