I leaned back against the hot leather car seat. It was nice to sleep a little extra, but my stupid stomach made me realize how nervous I really was. My feet tapped against the floor and my hands kept fiddling with each other. Arthur didn't seem to notice much, he was too intent on driving. Neither of us really seemed to take much note of the radio that was playing in the background. My fingers pulled off and pushed back on the ring that he had given me.
It was one of the things we had to settle before we had left. When I asked him how he would prove it he gave me the ring he said he always had it. It had been his grandmothers and well… he had always carried it with him, just in case. It felt dreadfully heavy on my hand, but not just because it was a large beautiful diamond, but because of the guilt that came along with it.
"Arthur?" I sat up. It was the first time he really acknowledged that we were even in the same car.
"Yes?" he looked over at me.
"I… am… nervous," I confessed turning up the A/C.
"There is no reason to worry." He assured me, "Just remember what we practiced."
Yeah that was right… we had practiced. Neither of us really believed that we could pull it off… I mean he and I only knew each other from a month or two of working together. Other than that we were almost complete strangers. I pulled my sunglasses back over my eyes and leaned my head against the seat. That wasn't very reassuring.
"Hey," he knew that I was still bothered. His left hand reached out and took my right. I looked over at him, that was a little more coupley than we had planned, but still it gave me comfort.
"Tell me a little more about your parents." I prodded.
"Well…" he thought for a moment, "I don't really know what else to say besides they're normal people."
Normal people, I could handle that. I just had to pretend that I was married to their son. No big deal. I glanced out the window. We had been driving for a while and I hadn't seen a house in a while. Trees lined the road, which confused me.
"Arthur? Where exactly do they live?" I sat up and tried to see if there were any other cars near us.
"Well…technically they live in England but this is our summer home since they come up here for business this time of year… They are totally middle class people though, I promise."
"Summer home?" I repeated. Normal people did not have summer homes. Or maybe they did… but if they did they weren't this exclusively private. I looked over to the side, that was near his window. The wall that snaked along the side of the forest was giving me a horrible feeling in my stomach. Rightfully so too, the wall proved to hold an estate.
We reached the middle of it. Large gates stood to guard the entrance. There was a sign on the front but I was too nervous to read it. My vision was fuzzy and my stomach ached like I was going to throw up or something. Arthur turned the car to pull in.
The driveway snaked upwards onto a hill. Trees only existed at the wall. The rest of it was one of the largest front lawns I had ever laid my eyes on. My eyes followed the driveway until I hit the house and let out a gasp. Aside from the fact that there was a large fountain out front, the house itself was something I would only think about creating in a dream. It looked like it was an old Georgian Colonial that had been updated many times to incorporate different styles and add on different floors. The pillars in the front of the house were enough to intimidate me, not to mention the number of floors. One, two, three, four…floors, this was their summer home?
"Arthur?" I squeezed his hand out of fear.
"Don't worry," he smiled at me. Quickly he got out of the car and came around to open my door, since I was still frozen with fear. I felt extremely underdressed, looking down at my outfit. I had only bothered to put on a normal outfit, I wasn't expecting first class expensive mansion vacation home type wear. I fiddled with the end of my scarf and tried to fix my t shirt so that it might not look so casual.
"What about the stuff?" I asked looking back at the car.
"No, it's all right. They'll get it," he hand took mine and our fingers interlaced. I tried to focus on our hands for once, instead of my surroundings, but it was impossible, everything was so… grand.
"They'll" I heard myself mummer.
He pulled me to the door that opened with a slight push. I didn't know why but I guess I was expecting something a little more welcoming than us just barging into the house. The entranceway itself took me away either way. It opened up to a large room. There was something that resembled a desk near the entrance but it was probably just an accent piece, or I think that was what it was called. I was way too nervous about this. A double staircase led up to the next floor. Up above on the ceiling was a chandelier that I should have been able to see from the outside. There was a giant arch beneath the stairs that led into a different room that I couldn't name. These types of homes had a million names for their various rooms from drawing rooms to living rooms. There were other rooms off to the right and the left but Arthur seemed to know where he was going since he pulled me beyond the archway.
I tried to count the number of rooms before we finally reached the back room. The walls went up high, at least cutting into the second story. The windows were just as large reaching up to the ceiling. I looked out and I could see the most amazing view. Of course there was a large patio that held all the outdoor necessities the rich might need like a barbeque and enough café styled seats to entertain a group of at least twenty or so. Then beyond that was the most breathtaking pool landscape. It was the type that you saw on those pool commercials where they offer you paradise with the type of stones that you could line your pool with.
"Come on," I hadn't realized that I was just staring and not really moving. Arthur closed my mouth with a finger and laughed, "You need to stop worrying."
I was far beyond worrying though, in fact I was on the edge of having a panic attack. We headed out into the warm summer air and he pulled me down the steps to the side of the pool. Over the edge I could see the other slope of the hill. It went down and it would have led to a forest but instead there was a golf course… of course they would have a golf course.
"You have to be shitting me," I said looking over at Arthur.
"What did you expect? It's not too fancy," he said with a shrug. I felt my eyes widen a little.
"Arthur?" a new voice came. Arthur and I turned around at the same speed, one that would have given me whiplash. An older woman approached us. She was fairly pretty. She was definitely wasn't one of those stereotypical rich country club housewives. In fact she looked fairly normal, despite the way that she acted. The appletini she held in her hand it didn't really help too much. She wore a knee length white dress with sunflowers on it and had on a straw colored hat that cast a shadow on her slightly wrinkled face. She had blonde hair that was short, but enough for the tips to come down to her shoulders. Her appearance struck me because she looked nothing like Arthur.
Arthur rushed forwards, "Mom!"
The two embraced each other. I stayed back for a moment, slightly unsure.
"Mom, I would like you to meet Ariadne… my wife." He held out his hand for me. I took it and stepped forwards holding out my other hand.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Fredrick." I said as politely and innocently as my voice could manage.
"Nice to meet you too dear, and please call me Penny," she said taking off her sunglasses.
"Ariadne what a pretty… interesting name." From the moment she spoke I could tell she was extremely sweet. Maybe she wasn't all that I thought she was.
"I am so glad that we could finally meet," she said taking a sip of her appletini.
"I am too. I'm sorry we couldn't meet before." I said looking at Arthur for help.
"I am too," she answered curtly, the subject was obviously touchy.
"We were moving around and I had work and it just wasn't convenient." Arthur said giving me a hopeful smile. I nodded earnestly. The woman looked between the two of us, her penciled eyebrow rising.
"Well anyways I am sure your father would love to meet your wife." She said looking back at me.
"I am sure," Arthur answered quickly. I looked between the two of them and she moved away.
"What was that?" I asked in his ear.
"Nothing." He whispered back.
"Why don't you two go and get washed up and we will meet you on the terrace for lunch?" she suggested sweetly. Arthur nodded looking from her to me, "Wonderful idea."
Washed up? That definently meant that she wanted me to change. I pulled the ends of my hair nervously as Arthur pulled me back into the house. We headed to the staircase and walked up together. I don't know why we held hands but I felt like we needed practice to make it look a bit more natural than the awkward way we held hands before. We were silent until we reached the fourth floor, of course his room was on the fourth floor.
"We prepared your room sir," A maid said stepping out of a room.
"Thank you so much," he said pushing his way into the double doors. I waited outside and looked at her. I don't know what she thought or possessed her but what happened next made me blush.
"Would you like a separate room or something… you look uncomfortable miss…" she said quietly.
"No," I could feel my face getting red, "Thank you," The woman headed down the hall slowly leaving me to follow Arthur.
"What was that?" he laughed at me.
"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes. So this was it. It was a simple room. There was a king size bed in the middle that hosted an elaborate headboard that was carved and looked more like artwork than furniture really. Millions of pillows lined the bed, which I couldn't help but laugh at. There was a large plasma screen TV hanging over a desk. A bureau sat on the wall that held the doors. Then I saw it. Curtains covered the whole wall. I went up to them and tugged the cord. I gasped and opened the door that they revealed. There was a balcony. This house was one of the weirdest ones I had seen in a while.
"Like the view?" he called from the room.
"Love it," I confessed, forgetting about everything for moment. I could see farther than I needed really. In the distance I could see the town that we had passed through. Then I got nauseas as I saw the full extent of the golf course. It was larger than it looked. I had to get back inside. I stepped through the doors and slid it closed. I headed to the bathroom to make sure I didn't blow chunks.
"So what do you think of my mom so far?" he asked, bringing me back.
"Arthur, what the hell?" I demanded, "Normal people? Middle Classman? Oh yeah they're so normal they live in a freaking mansion!" I couldn't control my anger. The smile on his face widened and he started to laugh, "You're funny."
"For damn sure I am!" I countered. I slammed the door and took a deep breath. I leaned forwards to look myself in the mirror. I was glad that I had given off a first impression that went over fine but the second one was going to be even better, I was determined. I just needed my makeup and better looking cloths. That was it! I opened the door back up and went over to my suitcase. Arthur lay on the bed looking through his phone.
I pulled out the only dress that I had bothered to bring with me. I had planned t wear it just in case but this was a dire situation and called for action. I headed back into the bathroom and changed. Along with it I fixed my makeup. I darkened my eyes with dark eye shadow and black mascara. I even had the nerve to break out my curler and perfect my wavy hair.
"Wow," Arthur gasped as I emerged from the bathroom.
"Is this ok?" I motioned to the white dress. It had thin straps as well but it could do. There was a green belt that went across the waist and let the rest of the material flow down to my knees.
"You look…." He was speechless, the approach I had hoped for.
"Let's do this," I gestured holding out my left hand. He looked down at the ring for a second and then back up at me. I was just as dressy as he was. Then again he did decide to go a bit more casual than usual. Just a dress shirt, tie and black pants. Still, I was closer to what I hoped they expected of me.
"Whatever you do, try to not talk a lot ok?" he whispered as we headed back down the stairs. I nodded. That was one thing he didn't have to worry about. We headed back out to the back of the house.
"There you two are," we hadn't really been gone for that long but I ignored it.
"Ariadne, this is my husband, Arthur's father, Richard." Penny said introducing me to an older man who struck me as familiar.
"Nice to meet you," I said with the biggest smile I could manage without it looking creepy.
"Nice to meet you too," he was exactly what I imagined Arthur to look like in a good forty years. He had the same warm eyes and the hair color was similar, though Rich seemed to be losing it with age. He wore a golfing outfit however, something Arthur wouldn't dare wear. A yellow shirt that matched the sunflowers on his wife's dress and khaki pants that only came up to his knees. He was very in shape for an older man and he was just about Arthur's height.
"Please, wont you take a seat?" Penny asked motioning to the table. Arthur pulled out a chair for me.
"Thanks," I whispered. He nodded and took his own seat.
"Wine?" a woman who was obviously the server offered me some. I nodded and held out my glass. The liquid was cool and nice.
"So…" Rich started, "Ariadne… please tell us what it is you do. Arthur never bothered to describe you."
"Oh, Arthur," I said glancing at him for hopeful hints. I didn't know what to say, whatever he did tell them I couldn't go against that.
"I'm an architect," I answered. "I work with a friend of Arthur's in fact. His firm, that is how we met."
"Oh yes of course." Penny leaned back in her seat.
"Once again I have to apologize for not having you at the wedding," I leaned forward hoping that I sounded convincing, "It was a really small occasion. In fact it was so small we only had a few friends… not even my own family came."
"Where did you two get married?" Rich asked looking at me expectantly.
"A church in the states," Arthur answered quickly. His parents looked at me, waiting for me to say something else.
"Yes… it was very nice…" I didn't know what else they were expecting of me. The smell of food filled the air and plates were put in front of us. I looked down and saw something I couldn't even name. I wasn't a culinary person at all, in fact I was lucky if I didn't mess up getting a bowl of cereal but I was daring enough to eat to cut off the tension that was between everyone at the table.
"So dad…" Arthur helped me. "How is business?"
"Very well… I just wish I could have gotten you to join me in the family tradition," his father said shaking his head. What was he a lawyer? A doctor? A government worker? My mind filled with suggestions as to what his dad could be.
"Instead you decided to get into government work… such a shame," Penny shook her head.
"Sorry. You know I was never very good at the hardware stuff," Arthur scoffed.
"We would have shared our lottery money with you. You know that. Its actually very comfortable to work at the shop and still be able to have a little extra to use around here," Richard looked around the house.
"Woah woah woah wait what do you do?" I asked, choking on my wine.
"I work down at the hardware store in the town we live in… this is just our other business." He said with a smile. He was a very sweet older man. I could see where Arthur had gotten all his charm and the looks.
"Yes dear, what did you think? We were lawyers or doctors and always spent our time this extravagantly?" Arthur's mom prodded.
"You just won the lottery and that's what got you this?" I gestured to the house.
"That's the story," she laughed, "We're normal people I promise you. In fact I would have preferred you met us at our other home, much more normal and less fancy."
I sat back taking a deep breath. I was relieved.
"Oh dear you thought that we lived here all by ourselves?" Penny laughed, "of course not. We won the lottery a while back and we bought this here mansion and changed it into a hotel. Didn't you see the sign out front?" she asked. I shook my head. With all the nervousness that I had felt I didn't really get a chance to look around.
"We open only during the summer, seeing as it's a hassle to get up here in the winter time. Next week is our opening week in fact. People usually come mostly then so we wanted some time to relax with you two before the customers come," Richard said. So these were normal people. They were trying to make a living. She wasn't a rich housewife at all. Well they could be rich if they had won the lottery but they didn't flaunt it around, they used it to create their dream. No wonder they weren't stuck up.
"So Arthur… Ariadne, can we be expecting kids anytime soon." This time Arthur was the one that choked on his drink.
"Oh… not too soon…" I said looking over at Arthur, "I would love to but with his job and my job right now isn't the most… convenient time." He nodded. He mouthed a thank you without them noticing.
"Excuse me sir?" someone came up to the table. He wore a bright blue shirt and white pants. I stared at him.
"Sorry," Richard said standing up, "You will have to excuse me. Business." He rolled his eyes and threw his napkin on the table. Penny smiled and nodded. As he headed back inside the building I looked over at Arthur.
"So there was something I was going to tell you dear," Penny leaned forward picking at her food. Arthur looked up, wiping his mouth. I politely tried to eat whatever it was, but decided against it.
"I'll tell you tomorrow when your father is here but I think it's something you'll both appreciate," she said as sweetly as she could manage. Ok so I could understand them wanting grandchildren and being normal people but I was intrigued by this offer.
"Well… I won't keep you two from unwinding from your long drive." Penny stood up taking the plates. I got up and took mine but she protested and took it.
"Thanks mom," Arthur said with a smile. Quickly he took my hand and gave a short nod. Like it was a race he pulled me into the hotel. I looked around and could see it now. The sign was there and the desk in the front was probably for checking in. The golf course seemed less outrageous.
"Why didn't you tell me they lived in the hotel?" I demanded.
"Sorry," he laughed, "I really thought I told you."
I scowled as he laughed some more. We both headed up the stairs back to his room. This was going to be easy. I just had to calm down. They were normal people. Of course that was from what I knew of them so far. The real test would surely begin tomorrow. The day we had to make conversation about real things aside from work. The thought scared me. There was less pressure though, I didn't have to live up to fancy expectations, for all I knew they had already accepted me as their daughter in law. All I had was a week and six days left of living the lie…
A/N: I HAD THE BEST RESPONSE FROM YOU GUYS. (It actually inspired me to update this so fast so thanks!) I feel like the whole world added this story to their alerts THANK YOU! I tried to change it up a little I guess… I thought the obvious thing to do would be to make Arthur and his parents' super rich but instead I just made them win the lottery lol. So yeah more story to come soon! I have indeed formed and written down a plot for this (including Penny's surprise!) so I promise this one will NOT be deleted! Thanks for reading and reviewing! You guys rock!