Chapter 5: Lunch With the In-Laws
Laura Sue walked with gracefulness into the dining room. She spotted Lillian greeting the guest with Randolph tagging behind her like a loyal puppy. She sighed unhappily and searched the room for anyone she knew. Randolph had informed her yesterday that there would be no honeymoon. She was very disappointed and decided that she would still be upset with him today. Laura Sue began walking through the dining room stopping to smile and say hello to someone every now an then. She stopped when she was Bill Cutler, Randolph's father. He had been away on a business trip during there wedding. It was obvious he had just returned early this morning. As she approached the table, she could see the fatigue written all over his face.
"Well, Miss Laura Sue," Bill drawled, "how was your wedding night?"
Laura Sue felt the heat rise up her neck and into her cheeks. "I don't believe that is any of your business, Mr. Cutler." She answered him slightly agitated.
What business of it was his how she had spent her wedding night? She frowned deeply and folded her arms under her chest as the waiter came over to them. Mr. Cutler ordered for the both of them and took a sip from his champagne glass. Laura Sue saw Randolph and his mother pass by and greet some more people. The way he followed her around was so annoying. He should be spending time with his new wife instead of following his mother around. Laura Sue began to pout and sulked as the waiter brought their food to the table.
"My dear, something is bothering you." Bill began as he took Laura Sue's hand in his.
Laura Sue was so surprised by his actions that she didn't take her hand from his. She looked up at him with that charming smile playing on his face. She smiled sweetly at him before she noticed Lillian and Randolph coming their way. Laura Sue swiped her hand away from her father-in-law's and smiled up happily at Randolph.
"Hello, darling." He said before taking her hand into his and kissing it softly.
Laura Sue smiled and squeezed her husband's hand. This was the kind of affection she wanted, the kind that Bronson just couldn't give her. The smile wilted off her face and Laura Sue felt her hand go limp in Randolph's. She let go of his hand and began to pick at her food. Randolph began to eat taking big bites as if he were starving. Laura Sue scowled in disgust and then caught her father-in-law gazing at her again. She simply looked down at her plate and began to eat a piece of lettuce.
"Mother," Randolph began, "I wanted to discuss something with you." "Can't you see we're eating, Randolph? Wait till I'm in my office then we will discuss it." His mother answered him coldly.
"It's very important, Mother, and I thought it would be-" Randolph began, but stopped in mid-sentence when his mother glared darts at her son.
"Let the boy talk, Lillian." Bill said, but stopped complaining once he caught sight of his angry wife.
Laura Sue sat quietly for a while before scooting back from the table and excusing herself. Randolph was too busy listening to every word his mother said to realize she had said anything. Laura Sue left the dining room in a terrible mood and rushed up to her and Randolph's suite of rooms. She couldn't believe that Randolph was ignoring her or that her father-in- law was lavishing her with so much attention.
Laura Sue walked with gracefulness into the dining room. She spotted Lillian greeting the guest with Randolph tagging behind her like a loyal puppy. She sighed unhappily and searched the room for anyone she knew. Randolph had informed her yesterday that there would be no honeymoon. She was very disappointed and decided that she would still be upset with him today. Laura Sue began walking through the dining room stopping to smile and say hello to someone every now an then. She stopped when she was Bill Cutler, Randolph's father. He had been away on a business trip during there wedding. It was obvious he had just returned early this morning. As she approached the table, she could see the fatigue written all over his face.
"Well, Miss Laura Sue," Bill drawled, "how was your wedding night?"
Laura Sue felt the heat rise up her neck and into her cheeks. "I don't believe that is any of your business, Mr. Cutler." She answered him slightly agitated.
What business of it was his how she had spent her wedding night? She frowned deeply and folded her arms under her chest as the waiter came over to them. Mr. Cutler ordered for the both of them and took a sip from his champagne glass. Laura Sue saw Randolph and his mother pass by and greet some more people. The way he followed her around was so annoying. He should be spending time with his new wife instead of following his mother around. Laura Sue began to pout and sulked as the waiter brought their food to the table.
"My dear, something is bothering you." Bill began as he took Laura Sue's hand in his.
Laura Sue was so surprised by his actions that she didn't take her hand from his. She looked up at him with that charming smile playing on his face. She smiled sweetly at him before she noticed Lillian and Randolph coming their way. Laura Sue swiped her hand away from her father-in-law's and smiled up happily at Randolph.
"Hello, darling." He said before taking her hand into his and kissing it softly.
Laura Sue smiled and squeezed her husband's hand. This was the kind of affection she wanted, the kind that Bronson just couldn't give her. The smile wilted off her face and Laura Sue felt her hand go limp in Randolph's. She let go of his hand and began to pick at her food. Randolph began to eat taking big bites as if he were starving. Laura Sue scowled in disgust and then caught her father-in-law gazing at her again. She simply looked down at her plate and began to eat a piece of lettuce.
"Mother," Randolph began, "I wanted to discuss something with you." "Can't you see we're eating, Randolph? Wait till I'm in my office then we will discuss it." His mother answered him coldly.
"It's very important, Mother, and I thought it would be-" Randolph began, but stopped in mid-sentence when his mother glared darts at her son.
"Let the boy talk, Lillian." Bill said, but stopped complaining once he caught sight of his angry wife.
Laura Sue sat quietly for a while before scooting back from the table and excusing herself. Randolph was too busy listening to every word his mother said to realize she had said anything. Laura Sue left the dining room in a terrible mood and rushed up to her and Randolph's suite of rooms. She couldn't believe that Randolph was ignoring her or that her father-in- law was lavishing her with so much attention.