She heard the door open and Eugenia stepped in. “Oh, my. You’re all dressed up,” she said to Golden’s back. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes, I am,” Golden said as she reached for the purse then withdrew from the closet to turn to her mother with an ecstatic smile. “I’m getting married today.”
Eugenia gasped. “You’re going through with it? You’re getting married to Lord Mountbatten?”
Golden was overjoyed that she was able to shake her head. “No, Mother. To the man I love. Reed Davidoff.”
Eugenia’s eyes widened, “Your boss? I didn’t know you were romantically involved.”
Golden only smiled. “We’re getting married this afternoon.” She sighed and closed her eyes, the picture already forming in her mind. “Tomorrow when I wake I`ll be a married woman and it will be my birthday. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Sounds like a fairytale.”
Golden jumped and so did her mother. At the sound of the male voice both women spun around to see Carl Manchester standing in the doorway.
“Carl, I didn’t expect you today.” After her initial surprise Eugenia’s face softened.
“What? Can’t I drop in on my beloved stepmum?”
“Of course you can.” Eugenia gave him a wide smile but by then Carl had turned his attention to Golden.
“So, little sis is getting married.” He was smiling at her.
It was a smile that made Golden’s skin prickle. She stared at him boldly but said nothing.
“Aren’t you inviting your family to the wedding?” he asked, his tone so friendly it was frightening. “You know we would want to be there for you on your special day.” He was staring at Golden over Eugenia’s head and although his lips were smiling his eyes were hard as stone.
“Thank you so much,” she said, her voice just as friendly as his, “but that’s quite all right. We’ll have a grand ceremony at a later date. I’ll send out invitations for that one.” She was sure the cold stare she was giving him would tell him he would not be among the invited.
Carl stared at her for a moment longer then he smiled again. “Sorry. Please accept my congratulations.” Then he turned and left, disappearing as silently as he’d come.
“I’ll be right down to fix you some lunch,” Eugenia called after him but he did not respond. She turned to Golden with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, dear. I’ll fix him something quickly then I’ll get ready.” Then a frantic look crossed her face. “What will I wear? Oh, you should have told me...”
“Mother, this is just a quick thing to fulfill the requirements of the will. Reed and I agreed that we want to do this by ourselves. We’ll have a grand ceremony later on and that’s when we’ll have family present.” She put her hands on Eugenia’s shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Please, Mother, I just want to get this over and done with. You go on and take care of Carl. I’ll be down in a little while.”
As soon as she’d shooed her mother out the door Golden grabbed her purse and stuffed her cell phone, keys and driver’s license in, along with some tissues. There was not much more that would fit inside a purse as tiny as this one. The best thing for her to do was get out of the house as soon as possible but she didn’t want to do it while Carl was there. Maybe she was being paranoid but she had a feeling he would follow her. She tightened her lips, deep in thought, then she went to stare out the window as she mulled over her options.
And then she saw something that made her frown. It was Carl. He was out in the garden on his cell phone, deep in conversation. Normally this wouldn’t have been a cause for concern but after what he’d overheard who knew what he was up to? He could be on the phone this very minute telling his father the news. Golden could just imagine that man’s reaction if he found out.
But then she shook her head. There was no need to worry. After all, he couldn’t stop her. What could he do but rant and rave? He’d been happy when she’d kept saying she would never marry Lord Mountbatten. He knew what that would mean for him. But to now find out she was getting married after all? He would hit the roof. Except that she wouldn’t be under this roof when he got home. She would be long gone and safely by the side of her husband-to-be.
She just wished Carl would hurry up and leave.
Golden paced the floor then she went to perch on the window seat then she picked up her purse. This was not working. She would have to leave now, whether Carl was there or not. She just hoped her mother would keep him occupied so he would stay put and not follow her.
She went downstairs and just the thought that she would have to pass him on the way out made her grow tense. She was pleasantly surprised when she saw him by the front door, helping her mother into her coat.
“Carl is taking me out to lunch,” Eugenia said, beaming. “He said it’s his turn to give me a treat for a change. And then he’s taking me shopping. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Wonderful.” Golden returned her mother’s smile but she was watching Carl’s face, trying to figure out the smug expression there. She did not trust this man one inch. Why was he being so nice to her mother? Something was afoot.
But there was no time to worry about that now. She just wanted to see the back of them and then she would head out herself.
“Off you go,” she said and went over to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Have fun.” She waved as Eugenia and Carl went through the door.
She’d already turned and was heading toward the kitchen for a quick check that her mother had turned off the stove when she heard the front door open.
“Forgot my keys,” Carl called out.
Golden didn’t even bother to answer. She just kept on walking. Soon she heard the engine of his souped-up Peugeot roar to life and then she heard the car heading down the driveway and onto the road.
Finally. With a sigh of relief she went back to the foyer and grabbed her purse from the hall table then she went through the door, closing it firmly behind her. She glanced at her watch and smiled. Still good timing. Reed had secured a four o’clock appointment with the judge and it was just a little after one. Plenty of time for her to fight the traffic into the city and grab some lunch before meeting Reed at the judge’s office.