I do.

Meeting

"Here you are! So late!" Mother's voice welcomes us as she brushes us down. "Sorry mother, it took us a little bit more time." Carol tries to sweet talk her: "What is this amazing smell? You really cooked casserole?" She rushes into kitchen and leaves me on my own with my mother. 

"Have you chosen something nice?" I nod and show her the necklase. "How beautiful!" She touches the cold silver with her fingertips and I know thatshe really likes it. 

"Shall we begin to eat?" My father comes into the living room. His smile enlarges, when he sees my new jewel. "Beautiful." He says. "Now go, leave it in yourroon and come to lunch." He command me and I do so. 

When I come to the dining room I catch my family in middle of a coversation. They shut up the very moment I step in. "Take your seat, darling. We havejust been talking about your upcomming wedding." My father waves at me and I obey. 

"My wedding?" I ask, pretending interest. I could not care less. "What about it?" "We are trying to find out the best date." My mother explains and I choke on water, I have just drank. "Date? Isn't it too soon? I think I should at least get to know my betrothed befor we talk about the date?" "Why should we pospond anything? The Wattsons want you to be married as soon as possible." My father takesthe word. Strange numbness spreads all over my chest. As soon as possible. The rest of lunch we spend in silence. 

"Please, prepare for your visitor. It is really important meeting." My mother orders. 

"Our first date, you mean." I say, quietly. 

I escape to my room as soon s possible. Again, I brush my hair and think. I am meeting my future husband today. But do I really want toget married now? I throw the brush on my bed, even though I know I am  not supposed to treat it like this. Quicky I move to a book shelf near the window and I search for one particular book. Its name is Million and it has been written by Marco Polo. I open the book on a random page and start reading. 

This is what I want. I want to travel. Meet new people, get to know different cultures. I cannot be the housewife, at least not yet. 

I hear the door bell. I shall give this visitors a chance and see how it goes. I slowly go to the livingroom and I force myself to smile. 

"Here she comes!" my mother's nervous voice is higher than usually. "Genevive, darling, let me introduce you the Wattson family." she comes to me and leads me towards a woman and a man, siting on a sofa. I remember the woman. She was here the other day. And the man by her side looks as old as my father, maybe a little bit older. Her husband. 

"Welcome to our house, Lady and Lord Wattson." I politely greet them and I make my best obeisance. Lady Wattson just stares at me the whole time. Lord Wattson smiles at me warmly and offers me his hand to shake. I take it and shake it shortly. 

I look around the room and notice that Caroline is missing. And it the very moment I hear her laugher and she enters the room with a young man by her side. 

"And here she is." Caroline points her finger at me. 

That young man smiles and I cannot do anything else than stare at him. Dressed in a hand-made suit, dark brown hair brushed back and tied with a black silk ribbon, brown eyes looking straight at me.I shake with cold. 

"Miss Genevive, it is very nice to meet you." He says with a very smooth not too low pithched voice and bows a little bit.

"Welcome, Mr Wattson." I say modestly. "Please call me Vivi." I offer him. Since we are soon going to be married. He offers me his elbow and  leads me to an empty chair and sits on the next one. 

"So, when we all are finally together, let the discusse begin." My father claps his palms sharply and so it begins.