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“Michael..,” sheer desperation had her almost leaping from the chair. If Leo had not held her back, she would have jumped to her feet. “You remember him? He was ordained as a minister on the internet and would love to do the ceremony.” She had not contacted Michael yet, but she was certain he would agree.
“I thought you said you wanted to go to Las Vegas?” The frown had deepened as Gloria stared at the them.
“Plan B!” Leo again interjected.
“I am not certain that I approve of some random ordination over the internet. And isn’t he gay?”
“What difference does that make?”
Gloria frowned at the girl’s defiance but conceded gracefully. “It is your wedding and times have changed. I would like the ceremony to be held before I leave. So, next Saturday should be fine. It is not yet too cold out. We will have it in the garden. A nice outdoor ceremony should be lovely.
I will make all the arrangements and call you with the details.” She gave her niece a critical glance. “Do something with your hair my dear and I am springing for the wedding dress. You are marrying a man of immense worth, you need to look the part.”
Dragging her hand away from his, Sherrian fisted it on the arm of the chair. “I am not wearing white.”
Gloria's eyes flashed with both amusement and disapproval. "I never said anything about white, Sherrian. But it is your wedding, and we must maintain some decorum," she said, her tone softening slightly. "Perhaps an ivory or a pastel shade, but definitely something elegant."
Sherrian drew a deep breath, unsure whether to be relieved or exasperated. Leo squeezed her hand gently, grounding her once again. "We'll consider it, Aunt Gloria," she managed to say, her voice steadier than she felt.
“Another thing. Your fiancé is quite adept at business.” She turned her gaze towards Leo, an incisive look on her face. “I admire your business acumen. You have managed to make something of yourself, by accomplishing the American Dream.”
She turned to her niece. “You will be getting a substantial part of my resources. I met with my lawyer just a day ago and my banker as well as my thieving accountant and I was told that it amounts to more than eight million dollars.
“This house…” She looked around the dingy and depressing room with a snort. “If one can call it that of course, it will be sold. It belonged to my third husband’s family and there was a codicil that prevented me from selling before now. I am going to find myself a small cottage somewhere near here and live out the rest of my days peacefully.”
She pierced her niece with her eyes. “I have heard the grandiose plans you have for the little shop and while I approve and admireambition, I worked too hard to see my money thrown to the winds. Your husband will have control of most of it and will make certain that you are not pissing your inheritance away.”
“Aunt Gloria!”
“Ms. Watson…”
“Quiet, both of you.” She ordered imperiously. “I might be a doddering woman going into her seventies, but I am not a fool. I would like to see this marriage flourish. I expect the two of you to be living in the same home. I will quickly visit when I get back to see how settled you are.”
She stared at her niece. “I know how broken you were over what that bastard did to you, and I realized that afterwards you stopped dating. This is a second chance, and I want you to take it. You get my money, but you also get my input. Now!”
She clapped her hands. “Next Saturday, at ten in the morning. Time for you to go on your honeymoon after.”
*****
He allowed her the silence as they made the journey back to her place and knew she was fuming.
“I’m sorry,” she finally muttered. He glanced over briefly as he made the turn and saw that she was looking out the window. She looked so miserable and defeated, he wanted to stop the vehicle and take her into his arms. Inside he was gleeful. The old woman had unwittingly given him a gift. It was just up to him to do the rest.
“For?” He asked mildly. Night was descending and he was surprised to realize they had been at her aunt’s place for more than two hours.
“Involving you in all of it. This was supposed to be simple. We go off to Vegas to find some dingy and completely disreputable chapel and pretend to get married.”
“You should have realized that as her only living relative, your aunt would want to see you tying the knot.”
He stopped the car just inches away from her porch steps. The place was lovely, if a little neglected, and he had in the past, often wondered why she chose to live away from her aunt. Meeting the woman, he could understand why.
“She’s an interfering old bat.” Fury came just then, and he watched fascinated as she fisted her hands into her hair and tugged. “Planning the wedding and placing you in charge of the money.
Hard earned, my ass. All she did was marry three men with the resources and managed to outlive all of them, well, except Uncle Tony and he paid through his damn nose.” She turned to face him, dark eyes flashing. “I refuse to be handled.”
He gave her a mild look. “And I am not in the habit of handling women.”
She had the grace to look ashamed. “God! I am behaving like a world class bitch, when you are the one going out of your way in doing me this favor.”