shout and scream and throw a big, fit. For now, let me explain—”
I scoffed. “Go on. Talk.”
His brows raised- a light smile played by his lips, and I so wished I could wipe it off with a smack to his cheek.
He cleared his throat. “Right. Where was I? Oh, yes. I had some investigation done on you. Nothing intense. I just found out what you do, where you go, who your friends are, and what’s most important to you. After all, I should know some things about my bride to be. Bride to be…I like the sound of that, don’t you, Dorothy? See, my investigator gathered some rather unfortunate information about that shelter. It’s broke. The city won’t pay for it anymore, and no matter how many petitions you get people to sign, the sad thing is…no one cares. No one cares enough to save that place you love so much. So, I used this superior brain of mine, to come up with an idea, and what a brilliant idea it is, if I do say so myself. I’m sure you remember how I told you to give me an answer yesterday regarding this…engagement. But then, just this morning, I realized that I didn’t need your permission. I just needed your cooperation, because honestly sweetheart, you need me. You need me just as much as I need you, so let’s help each other. I called Richard in the morning, and asked him to repay that favor I’d been saving for a very long time, but let’s not dwell on that. Let me cut to the chase, here, little Dorothy…Your beloved shelter needs two million bucks to get back on track, and guess what…I have more than enough to spare. I’d love to give all that money away to a poor, adorable Princess such as yourself, but you see, I’m not really into giving without getting. So, in return…I think asking for your hand in marriage isn’t too much of a task. It’ll last a year, one full year, and not a second more. I’ll have what I want and you’ll have what you want, and it’ll be so easy…so, so easy. I want to laugh at how easy this all this. I just need your cooperation. Do you understand?”
Everything inside me felt numb, as though my body were being held within a block of ice- trapped.
James sat on the arm of the bench, staring casually around the room, as if he hadn’t just given me a life changing proposition.
I thought about his words, as memories of Rosefield shelter passed through my mind like a movie reel.
I saw my twenty year old self getting kicked out of my first apartment from inability to pay the rent, and being dragged into a bar by a drunk man, who promised to give me a good night.
I was from a small town, and New York City was a cave of nightmares at the time.
If Carla hadn’t stepped in that night, outside a strange bar in the city, who knows what would have happened to me. She had honest, maternal eyes, and with a fierce strength, had pushed that guy off of me. She was a middle aged woman, whose skin resembled caramel, and hair was as dark as the night sky. She was in charge of the shelter and had let me stay there, watching over me, and helping me get a job at Bellevue hotel as well. It was not only her I’d grown attached too, but everyone one at the shelter had become a bit of a family I never had. After I met April, and moved into our current Apartment, I promised to volunteer at Rosefield every Saturday, and I had kept that promise for two years and counting. But now, after the closing notice, everything would change. Where would Carla go, and what would happen to everyone at the shelter? Would they have a meal to eat? Would they have a bed to sleep in?
My heart clenched just thinking about them having nowhere else to go.
“I’ll marry you.” The words came out my mouth
I scoffed. “Go on. Talk.”
His brows raised- a light smile played by his lips, and I so wished I could wipe it off with a smack to his cheek.
He cleared his throat. “Right. Where was I? Oh, yes. I had some investigation done on you. Nothing intense. I just found out what you do, where you go, who your friends are, and what’s most important to you. After all, I should know some things about my bride to be. Bride to be…I like the sound of that, don’t you, Dorothy? See, my investigator gathered some rather unfortunate information about that shelter. It’s broke. The city won’t pay for it anymore, and no matter how many petitions you get people to sign, the sad thing is…no one cares. No one cares enough to save that place you love so much. So, I used this superior brain of mine, to come up with an idea, and what a brilliant idea it is, if I do say so myself. I’m sure you remember how I told you to give me an answer yesterday regarding this…engagement. But then, just this morning, I realized that I didn’t need your permission. I just needed your cooperation, because honestly sweetheart, you need me. You need me just as much as I need you, so let’s help each other. I called Richard in the morning, and asked him to repay that favor I’d been saving for a very long time, but let’s not dwell on that. Let me cut to the chase, here, little Dorothy…Your beloved shelter needs two million bucks to get back on track, and guess what…I have more than enough to spare. I’d love to give all that money away to a poor, adorable Princess such as yourself, but you see, I’m not really into giving without getting. So, in return…I think asking for your hand in marriage isn’t too much of a task. It’ll last a year, one full year, and not a second more. I’ll have what I want and you’ll have what you want, and it’ll be so easy…so, so easy. I want to laugh at how easy this all this. I just need your cooperation. Do you understand?”
Everything inside me felt numb, as though my body were being held within a block of ice- trapped.
James sat on the arm of the bench, staring casually around the room, as if he hadn’t just given me a life changing proposition.
I thought about his words, as memories of Rosefield shelter passed through my mind like a movie reel.
I saw my twenty year old self getting kicked out of my first apartment from inability to pay the rent, and being dragged into a bar by a drunk man, who promised to give me a good night.
I was from a small town, and New York City was a cave of nightmares at the time.
If Carla hadn’t stepped in that night, outside a strange bar in the city, who knows what would have happened to me. She had honest, maternal eyes, and with a fierce strength, had pushed that guy off of me. She was a middle aged woman, whose skin resembled caramel, and hair was as dark as the night sky. She was in charge of the shelter and had let me stay there, watching over me, and helping me get a job at Bellevue hotel as well. It was not only her I’d grown attached too, but everyone one at the shelter had become a bit of a family I never had. After I met April, and moved into our current Apartment, I promised to volunteer at Rosefield every Saturday, and I had kept that promise for two years and counting. But now, after the closing notice, everything would change. Where would Carla go, and what would happen to everyone at the shelter? Would they have a meal to eat? Would they have a bed to sleep in?
My heart clenched just thinking about them having nowhere else to go.
“I’ll marry you.” The words came out my mouth
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