The first part of this chapter is mainly told in Stevies mom and dads position so enjoy and review
Stevies Mums POV
Phil finally tells Stevie, "we want you to get engaged." Just then the maid Kasey comes in with a stack of plates, and drops them on the ground as they shatter into a million pieces. Everything seems to be in slow motion. I put my hands up and turn away from the broken China flying through the air. I hear Stevie run off, either to get away from the chaos, or to get away from us.
After the noise dies down, I look around for my daughter, before turning to find that stupid maid. But they are both gone. I hit my head against my palm in frustration. I knew she wasn't ready for this, this is too much for a little girl that's just left school last year. I get out of my chair and see Phil rubbing his head, and pacing back and forth. I grab him by the arm and drag him out of the dining room and up the stairs and into the bedroom.
"What were you thinking? I knew she wouldn't be able to handle this!" I yell. Phil sits on the bed, looking down, rubbing the back of his neck. He pushes his glasses up his nose and looks up at me, "Look Bethany, I'm as worried as you are about Stevie, but we needed to tell her sooner or later. If we had waited until later she would have been even more angry with us for waiting so long to tell her."
I turn to the window. I know he's right, Stevie is the spectacle of the neighbourhood. All the eligible men are after her heart. And I'm scared that if she doesn't begin a relationship soon, she may be assaulted by one of those boys. Of course there are some men in town that would be perfect husbands for our little girl, but choosing would be too difficult for her.
" We should choose her husband for her."
Phil's eyes widen as he looks up at me. " Bethany…I agree that Stevie will refuse to decide on a suitor, and it is best that we do it for her. But if we do, think of how angry she will be."
I can't believe that my own husband doesn't agree completely with me. I too want my daughter to be happy, but I want the best for her and only by marriage will I be satisfied. " Phil, we must." I say in a sharp tone.
He sighs and rubs his chin, " What about…Zander?"
Stevies Dads POV
" What about…Zander?" I suggest. She stands her ground stone-faced. She is expressionless, but she is fuming in her eyes. "No" she states sharply. And now, I honestly can't think of any other suitable boy for Stevie. They spend every waking hour together, and she talks about him all the time. Although she wouldn't admit it, Stevie does love him, and from what I have seen, Zander can't stop looking at her. But disagreeing with my wife is not an option. I strain my mind to think of the eligible bachelors in the neighbourhood. Then Bethany plops down suddenly next to me.
" I've got it! What about Veronica Cole's charming son, Justin?"
No. I never liked that boy. He was polite, but maybe too polite for a 19 year old boy. There is something off about that boy, he's quite sketchy. I can't let my daughter marry that man. I'll do whatever it takes.
" Yes, good choice Beth. He's a fine young man."
Stevies POV
I am getting engaged, I am getting engaged.
I repeat the words over and over in my head as I cry into my pillow. This isn't happening. I can't just get engaged, I only just left the stress of school. If I'm engaged then I probably won't live here anymore, and that means-
Zander.
The thought makes me cry even harder, that I may never see Zander again. I hear a knock at the door, probably my parents coming to talk to me.
" Go away mum!" I yell, even though the pillow muffles my voice. I hear someone familiar speak through the door. " No Steves, its me, Grace." Great. Now they've sent my little sister to talk to me. I get up and let her in. She's still my little sister, even though she only has two more years of school left. But let me tell you, she doesn't act like a 16 yr old. Sometimes, she sneaks out at night to hangout with her friend, Molly Garfunkel. I even saw her making out with our butler, Nelson Baxter. I was happy for him though, because he has had a crush on her for ages.
I talk to Grace for about ten minutes, and she comforts me. Eventually she gets a call from Molly. " Sorry Steves, I have to take this, but why don't you try suggesting who you would want to get engaged to? You're in too deep to get out of marriage now, but you should at least have a say in who you marry."
I nod. I was only half paying attention. But something she said at the end caught my attention. Like the candle in my head that had been put out for so long finally lit up.
" What about Zander?"