Will Montgomery and Dr. Connor Windsor’s wedding plans had taken on a life of their own. Chefs were flown in from around the world to prepare lavish tasting menus; every floral arrangement known to man had been created; every society matron had offered her humble opinion; and musicians from around the world played tunes ranging from the inane to the caustic. Will wanted his wedding day to be perfect; Connor wanted it to be memorable. However, their parents wanted this most exclusive wedding day to befit their established images in Kingsport.
Raquel Windsor squinted her eyes at the floral centerpiece arrangements which lined the greenhouse on the Montgomery Estate. “I simply don’t know…everything is so beautiful!”
Alison Farrell Montgomery rolled her eyes. She’d known Raquel for over thirty years due to Raquel’s marriage to her childhood friend, Alistair Windsor. To Alison, Raquel was the worst kind of interloper because she forgot where she came from while pretending she’d been to the manor born like Alistair, Alison, and Charles. While Raquel may have softened her roughest edges, Alison always liked to remind her that she’d never be one of them. “I think it’s the right amount if we want to err on the side of understatement,” snapped Alison.
“Oh, yes, I didn’t see it that way,” chimed in Raquel. “Connor,” she purred to her son, “I think Alison and Will are correct.”
Connor smiled tightly. The last thing he wanted was look at floral centerpieces with his mother and Alison, but he loved Will so he said, “Will and I will be too busy enjoying the wedding to even think about centerpieces.”
“These things do matter,” added Will, “but Connor has a point.”
Raquel nodded in agreement. “Oh, I couldn’t agree more, Will!”
Alison exhaled loudly. “Look at the time. I’m sure Chef is having lunch up to the library as we speak. We mustn’t be late.” Alison floated out of the greenhouse with Raquel tripping over herself to keep up.
“I don’t know why your mother is so short with my mom,” sniffed Connor.
Will forced a tight smile on his face. “I don’t know why my mom does half the things she does, Connor.”
“She’s a snob.”
“Ouch. Be nice.”
Connor placed his arm around Will’s tight waist. “I’m sorry.” He kissed Will’s scented neck. “Let’s skip lunch. I’ve had enough of our mothers for one day.”
“We have to go. It’s lunch, not the gallows,” laughed Will as they stepped into the hot August sun. “Besides, our mothers will have to learn how to get along,” sighed Will.
“Then you need to talk to your mother,” snapped Connor. “Everyone knows my mother is desperate for Alison’s approval.”
Will exhaled sharply. “I’ll have a word with her. Connor,” began Will, softly, “my mother wants to buy us a house as her wedding present to us.”
Connor turned to Will with marked bewilderment. “Why? You can live in my house.”
“Well, she thinks it’ll be good for us to establish a home off of your family’s estate.”
“Will, you need to tell your mother to mind her business!”
“Connor!”
“I’m serious! There’s nothing wrong with my house. You never cared that it’s at the back of my family’s land. Only your mother would care about something so…trivial!”
“Okay, calm down,” snapped Will. “It’s just a house. Anyway, you always said your sister wanted your house, so why not give it to her?”
“Will, stop letting your parents control you.”
“My parents do not control me,” scoffed Will, hotly.
Connor shook his head as they approached the main house. “If you believe that…”
“They don’t!” insisted Will.
“Wake up, Will. You have more money than God, but your mother wants to buy our marital home. Oh, and let’s not forget that your dad bought the polo club for you. No wonder you have no qualms spending a million dollars of your money on our wedding because you never pay for anything! For crying out loud, you still live at home!”
Will froze in steely silence as he averted Connor’s gaze. In that moment, it felt like the world had lots its color, sounds ceased to exist, and joy had yet to be known. “You should go,” said Will, crisply.
“I can’t have an opinion?!?!”
“Go, Connor. I won’t ask you again,” replied Will, icily.
“Fine,” snapped Connor.
Will watched as Connor disappeared into the house as he wondered what he’d done to deserve such treatment from the man he loved. Just as the tears were about to flow, Alison walked out of the house towards her son. “Connor had to leave,” Will told his mother.
Alison shook her head in disbelief. “I heard you two from the hall. Oh, Billy…”
“Mom, please. Don’t. Pity is the last thing I need from you.”
“I’m not giving you my pity, Billy.” Alison seized her son by his hands, turned his face towards hers, and said, “You need to think long and hard about Connor. This is the moment every couple faces during the run-up to their wedding… It dictates whether or not they will commit themselves to each other…forever. If Connor is intimidated by your money…your family, then he is not the right man for you.”
“How can you say that to me?!”
“Billy,” Alison continued, firmly, “you need to hear this. Yes, Connor’s family has some money, but not they’re not like us. If Connor can’t handle it, then call off the wedding, Billy. I mean it.”
In our next installment, Jill lets a secret slip…
Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.
Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com
© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.