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chapter thirty-nine. the wrath of con
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Four wise men once said: 'I get by with a little help from my friends.' But on the Upper East Side, there's the added challenge of figuring out who those friends really are.
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RUFUS HUMPHREY OWNED a skip in his step, a wide smile that pulled upon his thinned lips and his eyes were bright with glee as they roamed the streets of New York City in approach to Petrossian Boutique for brunch with the van der Woodsen family. His good mood stemmed from the ring he possessed and kept safe within his leather jacket as he thought far into the future about his and Lily's wedding, marriage and how their families were to intertwine and become one. He even chuckled with the thought as it was completely overwhelming him with happiness.
Victoria loved seeing it. Her father so merry. It had been a long while since she had seen him as such. This brightness that hovered in her presence. As much as Victoria loved her mother, Alison had tarnished their father's high spirits when she moved to Hudson and committed an affair. He was a dark looming cloud above their heads for so long until Lily. . .until they both chose that they couldn't ignore what love they had even when their lives moved separate.
Rufus hummed within his high spirits and it abruptly stopped at a redheaded woman walking past him and his family. He pointed. "Have a great day." He declared before the slight bounce in his step continued and the woman had been riddled with a wonder of why exactly a stranger spoke to her.
The Humphrey children all exchanged looks with each other, Dan with a look of furrowed brows to question if his father's happiness needed to be blurted out to strangers. Oh, Jenny was just embarrassed that her cheeks reddened and Victoria, well, she only was humoured by the smile plastered across her father's face.
"Ok, Dad," Jenny broke her silence. "this whole happy thing, it's a little annoying."
"Yeah, seconded." Dan agreed causing Victoria's groan as she nudged her twin in his side with the fear he'd cause the falter in their father's mood. "Humming is fine for home, but Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah on the F? I'm pretty sure whatever that lady said meant 'stop' in her own language."
Jenny chuckled, bowing her head to hide her amusement before Rufus' brows arched. "What's not to be happy about? We're all together. Serena's boyfriend let me in on an investment that could pay for your educations. And I'm about to propose to Lily."
Victoria's lips parted at the words that Rufus' carelessly threw into his rambles. "Wait? What?" She tried to keep to step with her father as she feared he would drop down on one knee in the middle of a cafe. "You're proposing to Lily at brunch?"
