Verity didn't entirely want to go and try on dresses on the Saturday morning, but she did it for Janet. She was going to be maid of honour at her wedding and that meant she had to wear whatever Janet wanted her to wear and thankfully that hadn't been anything too horrendous. Janet had jokingly threatened her with a salmon-coloured dress but, in the end, she had gone for a deep blue number instead. It was quite slinky with spaghetti straps and a small slit up the side of her right leg. Thankfully the neckline was quite high so that Verity wouldn't have to keep pulling it up if it threatened to slip down and slip off of her. She wasn't entirely certain how long she had to stand for the alterations to take place, but the glass of champagne she'd been given to sip on as she stood there was enough to distract her.
"You know, you get a plus one to the wedding, right?" Janet checked.
She was sat on a sofa against the wall, holding her own glass of champagne and flicking through a magazine that was on her lap, legs crossed over each other. She peered up from the page she had been reading on the latest fad diet, arching her brow in Verity's direction.
"You sure your dad is going to allow that? Aren't you already over your allocated number of guests?"
"Yeah," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "But what's my dad going to do? Besides, if he complains then Robert will just throw in some extra money. It's not like he's paid for anything towards this wedding…and all his mom is doing is complaining about the finer details. Did you know that my bouquet has too many colours that clash?"
"Well, I was thinking something similar," Verity said, her tone teasing and Janet stuck her tongue out. Verity chuckled and sipped on her champagne again as the dressmaker finished placing in the final pin at the hemline.
"Right, I think we're all done here," the woman said, managing a small smile as she stood up straight, tape measure around her neck and her pantsuit crumpled. "If you could slip out of the dress, I'll be back in about twenty minutes. There really isn't that much to alter so we may as well do it now and check it's all okay."
"Sounds good," Verity said and the woman took the champagne from her as she trundled back into a changing room. She slid the dress off carefully and handed it back before reaching for the robe they'd given her to wear.
She tied the sash around her waist before heading back towards Janet on the sofa. Sinking down next to her, she curled her legs up underneath her body and rested an arm over the back of the sofa. "Sure you're alright?" Verity checked with Janet.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Janet questioned, cocking her head to the side.
Verity shrugged and moved her other hand to sit on top of her knee, rubbing the bare skin she could feel from where the robe didn't cover her legs. "You just seem on edge…not your usual carefree self," Verity commented. "I'd get it because organising a wedding isn't easy."
"It's…yeah…it's stressful," Janet confirmed with a nod of her head. "But it's not just that."
She placed her champagne glass down and Verity noticed she hadn't even touched any of her drink. She tossed the magazine off to one side and turned to look Verity in the eye, exhaling a deep breath and steeling herself to tell her some news. It looked like it had been bugging her for a while.
"What's going on?"
Janet inhaled sharply. "I'm pregnant," she said, the two words coming out for the first time since she'd found out. Verity's eyes widened and she placed a hand over her mouth. She had no idea how she should react to that news. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to shriek with joy. But there was something in Janet's face that told her that wasn't how she wanted her to react. Instead, she furrowed her brow.
"You're pregnant?" she checked and reached a hand out towards Janet, laying it on her friend's arm. Janet's eyes widened and tears began to pool at the corner of her eyes.
"Yeah," she said with a nod. "About eight weeks I think…I…I haven't told Robert yet."
"Okay," Verity said, trying to gage her friend's reaction and feelings.
"I…you're the first person I've told, V," she whispered. "I don't know how to tell Robert because I…I don't know if I can do this…he said that he wanted kids later…after we got married and had time to be together."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he isn't going to be thrilled at this," Verity said. "It will come as a shock, I don't doubt…but sometimes things don't go the way we plan them and they happen for a reason. I'm more concerned about you though, Jan. How do you feel?"
Janet shrugged her shoulders. "Scared…confused…but…excited," she confessed and finally a smile broke out on her face. "I've always wanted a family and this little one in here…I already love it…I want to be happy. I want to be thrilled. I'm just scared about how Robert is going to react and that's put a dampener on everything."
"I get that you're nervous," Verity assured her. "But you have nothing to be nervous about. Robert loves you. He wants to start a family with you. I know that this isn't what you thought might happen, but it's not a bad surprise. The longer you put it off then the longer you're going to stress about it. You need to tell him, Jan. You need to tell him and once you tell him then you'll see that you have nothing but to be worried about…but keeping it quiet…you're just going to be on edge until you talk to him."
Janet exhaled a sharp breath but nodded her head. "You're right," she said.
"Usually am," Verity said, trying to lighten the mood ever so slightly as her friend reached out to embrace her. "But I am so happy for you. You're going to make the best mom."
"You know you're going to be this kid's aunty, right?" Janet said. "We might not be blood related, but this kid is going to need its aunty Verity as much as anyone."
Verity's felt her chest tighten with joy at that and she nodded, promising herself she wouldn't cry from emotion. She squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her grip on Janet. "I'd love that," she whispered.
…
"You can't tell anyone and I mean anyone."
Mark had met Verity after her appointment at the bridal boutique. He'd been waiting by the entrance to Centra Park by the subway where they'd agreed to meet. Verity was finally going to meet Angelina and Mark had to admit that he felt no nerves about any of it. He wanted the two of them to meet and get on together. He suspected that they would.
"Hello to you too," Mark said, greeting her with an arm slipping over her shoulders and bending down to kiss her quickly.
"Hi," Verity said, smiling at him with all her teeth on show. "Janet's pregnant."
Mark's face scrunched up. "Really?"
"She just told me. She thinks she's about eight weeks gone, but she hasn't told Robert yet. She thinks he'll freak out because having a baby wasn't part of his life plan until they turned thirty five," Verity said and Mark kept an arm over her shoulders, leading her forwards and further into the park. He suspected that his sister would already be sat on their usual bench just two minutes inside of the park.
"Might come as a shock to him if they hadn't planned on having a kid," Mark said. "But I doubt he'll freak out in a bad way…not that I've met the guy, but I get the feeling that he's not going to run away from Janet."
"Oh, he wouldn't," Verity said confidently. "He's besotted by her. He loves her far too much to abandon her. I just…I'm so happy for her, but I just want her to tell Robert so that she can be happy and stop worrying."
"She will," Mark said confidently, unable to imagine Janet nervous about anything. She had always come across as quite confident whenever he'd met her. He had never had her down for being anxious. But he guessed that people put on different personas when they had to. "Although you seem particularly thrilled."
"Well, I get to be her fun aunty," Verity said to him. "She's my best friend. If she's happy then I'm happy. Besides, she did grant me a plus one to the wedding today."
"She's allowed more people?" Mark asked, smirk on his face.
"Exactly what I said," Verity said.
"Great minds, huh?" Mark jested back and Verity continued to smile up to him.
"Or we have the same dry sense of humour?" she retorted. "Either way…what do you say? Would you like to be my plus one?"
"I don't know," Mark teased. "Will it involve getting to see you in a hideous bridesmaid dress?"
"Can confirm it does not because Janet loves me and would never put me in anything hideous…but it might involve me tripping over her train as I carry it because that thing is far too long," she said and Mark nodded.
"Then count me in," he said and bent down to kiss her once more before picking his gaze up and noticing his sister sat on her bench. "And there she is," Mark said and Verity took a deep breath to steady herself. Mark moved his arm from her shoulders and picked her hand up, squeezing it tight inside of his. "She's going to love you."
"I hope so," Verity said and Angelina finally looked in their direction.
Verity could see the resemblance between the two siblings. They had similar coloured hair and the same eyes. Angelina was slight, however, and was clearly turning into a gorgeous young woman. She was gangly, dressed in tight blue jeans that were ripped at the knee. Her hair hung loose down her back and her green jacket seemed slightly too large on her frame. She stood up and focused on her brother, clearly apprehensive. Mark could tell that she wasn't entirely sure how to act in this situation.
"Angie," Mark greeted his sister, letting go of Verity's hand to hug his sister.
"Hey," she replied.
"How are you doing, kiddo?" he wondered and Verity stood back, drinking in the two siblings interacting. She could tell they were close by the way Mark kept his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm good. Exams are coming up so I'm just spending most of my time in the library," she answered.
"That's what I like to hear," Mark said and squeezed her shoulder before looking back to Verity. "Angie, this is Verity…my girlfriend…Ver…this is Angelina."
"Hi," Angelina said awkwardly and Verity figured a handshake would be far too formal and so she opted for a soft wave.
"Hey," Verity replied. "It's so nice to meet you. Mark's told me so much about you."
"Really?" Angelina checked. "He's not been telling you embarrassing things, has he?"
"What? Like how you cut your own hair when you were thirteen and had to wear a wig for a week?" Mark said and Angelina nudged him in the elbow to shut him up. He laughed again and Verity wondered if this was the most natural she had seen him be. Around his colleagues and so-called friends he always seemed guarded, like he couldn't be himself. Verity hoped that he didn't feel like that around her, but she sensed he didn't. He usually seemed carefree.
"If it's any consolation, when I was sixteen I got a perm that made me look like a poodle," Verity said, not sure if it would even matter or help her bond with Angelina. Truth be told, she had experience with teenagers, but that was just tutoring them. Most of the time she never tried to relate to them or even really wanted them to like her.
"I haven't heard that," Mark said. "I'd quite like to have seen that."
"No, you wouldn't," Verity retorted and toyed with the leather strap of her satchel she'd slung over her body.
"Not sure it's a consolation, but good to know," Angelina said and Mark shot her a stern look, warning her to be nice.
Verity ignored the comment and tried to move on. "Anyway, Mark tells me you're heading into high school next year and looking at colleges."
"Yeah," Angelina said with a nod. "I want to go to medical school."
"That sounds amazing," Verity said and she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Have you found anywhere?"
"She keeps threatening to leave for Chicago," Mark said.
"They have one of the best programmes over there," Angelina said. "But it's super competitive and super expensive so I don't know if I'll be able to go."
"You'll go," Mark said confidently.
"But it's really pricy. I looked into it and-"
"-Hey, I've told you not to worry about any of that," Mark interrupted her and his voice turned slightly sterner. Angelina rolled her eyes and Verity looked to the ground for a moment. Mark coughed into his fist and realised that he needed to go back to lightening the tone. "Anyway, I'll grab you a drink from the usual cart. What do you want, Angie?"
"Hot chocolate, please," she said.
"Ver, sweetheart?" Mark wondered, moving from his sister.
"I'll get these," she said.
"It's fine," Mark assured her.
"Coffee…thank you," Verity said and his hand skimmed the small of her back as he went by to the drink cart, hoping that without him loitering the two of them could talk some more.
"What's made you want to be a doctor?" Verity decided to ask her and Angelina sat down on the bench again. Verity perched on the other end, tugging her a-line skirt down her thighs.
"I love science," Angelina said. "I've always be interested in how the human body works and I guess I just…I just want to help people. I don't know why, not really. Mark told me that it's hard work, but he said I'm clever enough. He's always doing that. He's always hyping me up."
"He's so proud of you," Verity said to her with a warm smile.
Angelina rolled her eyes again at that like a typical teenager. "He's such a loser sometimes," she replied. Verity laughed at that. In some ways, she guessed that Angelina was still a child despite having these grand ambitions.
"I think he's quite sweet, but I guess I might be biased," Verity said.
"He is your boyfriend," Angelina said. "He's never asked me to meet his girlfriend before though so I guess he must really like you."
Verity's smile continued to grow on her face at hearing that. "Well, I really like him too."
"He said that you're a famous piano player," Angelina said, not really wanting to get into feelings. Verity nodded, clasping her hands together on her lap and leaning slightly forwards.
"I'm not famous, but I do play the piano," she confirmed for her. "I learned when I was a child and I always wondered if I could make a living from it…turns out that I could through tutoring and playing in orchestras and musicals. I know I'm lucky to do what I love doing."
"That is lucky. Mark never had that," Angelina retorted.
Verity's brows knitted together in confusion. "Really?" she asked. He'd told her that he'd always thought about joining the police service. "Mark said that he wanted to work his way up in the force…that he'd wanted to do that for a long time."
Angelina snorted, scoffing as she looked upwards. "Mark loves to draw and paint," she said and Verity wondered how she couldn't possibly have known that. "But he wanted to get a job as soon as he left school and joining the force seemed like the best thing to do…or so he told me," she replied. "Do you really know my brother?"
Verity forced out an awkward life at the same time Mark returned with three polystyrene cups in a holder. He sat down in between the two of them and placed the holder in between him and Verity on the bench.
"I think these are coffee," he said, picking one cup up and handing it to her. She thanked him. "And this is the hot chocolate," he said and handing the other cup to his sister.
"Thanks," Angelina said.
"So…how is Aunt Doris doing?" Mark asked from his sister. Verity studied the side of his face, drinking in his features and she wondered if there were things he kept from her. She'd known him for a few months, but that didn't mean she knew everything about him. But had he lied when he'd told her that he loved being a cop? Why would he not tell her about his painting or drawing? She didn't know. Was Angelina mistaken? She doubted it. She was his sister and clearly Verity wasn't making a good first impression by clearly knowing nothing about her brother.
"Still present," Angelina said with a shrug. "Still not that bothered about me or helping me apply for colleges next year."
"Well, if you need any help applying for college then Verity here when to Julliard," Mark said and turned to look to his girlfriend.
"That's a bit different than medical school, Mark," Angelina said, voice deadpan and Mark shot her a look that she knew suggested he didn't appreciate that comment. Verity took a sip of her coffee and Mark and Angelina managed a silent conversation with just their expressions.
'Be nice.'
'I am being nice.'
"She's right," Verity said with a nod of her head. "I mean…medical school is a lot more complex than Julliard…I can read over things though…I might not understand any of the terminology, but if I can be helpful then I'd be happy to help."
"That's really nice of you, Ver," Mark said.
"Yeah, nice of you," Angelina said. "But I can manage. I think pressing some keys on a piano is a bit different to dealing with illnesses."
Verity forced a smile onto her face.
"I'm just going to run to the restroom in the corner," Verity said and Mark nodded his head at her as she dashed off, needing some space. He turned to his sister, his glare increasing on her as he lowered his voice and tried not to snap.
"What is your problem?"
"My problem?" Angelina asked. "What's your girlfriend's deal? She doesn't even know you, Mark. She had no idea that you wanted to go to art school…or that you even painted…do you talk to her? She's also so hoity toity," she finished off, her voice going higher at the end.
"Angie," Mark warned her. "Verity didn't know I liked to paint because I haven't told her. Besides, it was more like a hobby. I was never serious."
"So those brochures I saw that time for art courses at college were never serious?" Angelina wondered from him, voice dry. "I'm just wondering how much she knows about you because from where I'm sitting, it seems like she knows nothing."
"She knows enough, Angie," Mark defended. "And she's trying to make an effort here and be nice to you. You don't need to throw it back in her face. She's…I love her, Angie, okay?" Mark said and Angelina's eyes widened at that.
"You've been dating for less than a year," Angelina said, not entirely happy with where the conversation was going.
"I know, but I love her nonetheless," Mark said. "I wanted you two to get along because you both mean the world to me. She's a good person, Angie. She might come from a different world than we're used to…but she's nice…she's funny…could you please just give her a chance? She's trying here."
Angelina didn't entirely like being scolded by her brother. It was rare that he had to play a stern adult with her. It had been a balance when she'd been growing up of him trying to play both mom and dad, but also just her big brother. Their aunt Doris hadn't really been the responsible adult of the family. She was happy just leaving them to grow up with minimalist intervention. Most of the time, she seemed to resent that she was their guardian after her sister and brother-in-law had died in the car crash.
"I just think you're moving too fast," Angelina defended herself. "I don't know if she really knows you and she…I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?" she said to him.
Mark softened at that a bit more. This was her way of looking out for him. "I love you," Mark said, moving a hand to hold her shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "And I know that you're just trying to protect me, but I'm fine. I promise you that I'm happy and Verity makes me happy. I love her."
"Fine," Angelina relented.
"So you're going to play nice?"
"Sweet as pie," Angelina said and Mark rolled his eyes but smiled as he kissed the top of her head just as Verity rounded the corner again, arms folded over her chest and gaze set down on the ground.
"You alright?" Mark asked her as she stood by the bench.
"Fine," she promised him, barely about to admit that she'd almost had a breakdown in the toilet.
"So what was Julliard like?"
Verity took a moment to realise that the question had come from Angelina and had been addressed at her. Angelina looked at her expectantly as Verity's eyes widened and Mark moved along the bench, giving her no choice but to sit in the middle. He kept one arm draped over the back of it, Verity sitting next to him and angling her body so that her back was almost against his chest.
"It was great," Verity responded to Angelina, tucking her hair behind her ears. "College is great. I was lucky though…I never really wanted to leave the city because my best friend was going to NYU so our plan was just to live together, which we did. But I guess it would've been an adventure…heading to another state…meeting new people."
"Yeah, but scary as well," Angelina retorted.
"I think anything new can be quite scary," Verity said and Mark handed her coffee cup back to her, letting her cup both of her hands around it. "But I don't think scary has to be bad."
"You always so wise?" Mark teased, whispering into her ear and Verity moved her elbow to nudge him in his stomach as he remained seated next to her, body pressed against hers. "But Ver is right," he said, looking to his sister once more. "College is scary, but you'll be great…not that I want you to go to Chicago if you don't want to go, but it has been all you've talked about for quite some time now."
"I guess," she agreed with him on that point.
He wasn't wrong. She often did think about it, more than she cared to admit.
"Besides, you'll make so many new friends at college," Verity said even though that hadn't been her experience. Then again, she wasn't exactly a social butterfly. She was quiet and preferred keeping herself to herself. "It's exciting…but I totally get why you'd be scared as well."
"I don't know…I think I'm more excited to get away."
"Try not to miss me too much, huh?" Mark teased, taking a sip of his drink.
Angelina rolled her eyes. "Of course I'll miss you," she said as if it were obvious. "But it's not like I won't see you again, is it?"
"All the time," Mark replied with a smirk. "Anyway, how about we go for a walk, huh?"
They all agreed and stood up, putting their empty cups in the trash can next to the bench. Mark took hold of Verity's hand as Angelina walked on his other side, arms folded over her chest as they lapsed back into conversation for another hour.
…
"Well, I think that went well, huh?" Mark asked.
Verity unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped in as Mark followed her. He closed the door behind her and locked it. Shrugging out of her jacket, she hung it up and tugged on the green sweater tucked into her black skirt. Mark also slipped out of his jacket and hung it up on the peg next to hers.
"Your sister doesn't like me, does she?" Verity checked.
Mark's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Ver, she liked you," he promised her.
Verity gave him a sad smile and shook her head. "You don't need to say that to save my feelings," she promised him. "I could tell that she wasn't my number one fan and I get why. She's protective over you and she thinks I hardly know anything about you…why did you never tell me you wanted to go to the art school?"
Mark shook his head and chuckled softly, shrugging his shoulders. "Because I didn't," he said to her.
"Don't lie to me," Verity said. "Please."
Mark sighed and raked a hand through his hair before looking to the ceiling. "I'd thought about it," he confessed to her. "But it was only just a thought, Ver. It isn't like I have this whole other life that I am keeping from you."
"But why did you tell me you'd always wanted to be an officer?" she asked him back.
"Because that was realistically what I'd always wanted to be," he said and he moved through into the bedroom. He perched at the end of the bed and Verity turned to the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed over her chest. "I didn't grow up in a privileged position. I had no one around to encourage me to do what I loved because I didn't have the money for it."
Verity kept silent, lips pursed and wondering if that comment was aimed at her. But Mark shook his head.
"And that's not a dig at you," Mark said, almost like he could read her mind by noting the way her face scrunched up and she looked slightly more guarded. "It's just a fact. I didn't have the money to go to college and I never saw it as an option for me. I wanted to get out of the house and have a career…and then…well...Angelina…she needs money for college and that was always in the back of my mind. I wanted her to have that opportunity. Figured the sooner I got a job and started saving then the better it would be for her…the more places she could go."
Verity's expression turned to one of understanding and sadness as she realised what had happened and what he had done. "You sacrificed college for your sister."
"I didn't see it as a sacrifice," Mark said quickly. "I want her to be happy. I want her to succeed and…she really wants to go to college so I am trying to make that happen for her."
"Why did you never tell me?" Verity asked from him and headed into the bedroom, perching down beside him on the end of the bed and moving her hand to rest on his thigh.
Mark shrugged ruefully and felt his body sag slightly before he moved to lay down, legs dangling over the edge of the bed. His hands rested on his stomach and he looked to the ceiling.
"I guess I just didn't think it was important," he responded and Verity angled her upper body to the side so that she could peer down at him. "It wasn't going to change anything and then there's a part of me that…I felt embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?" Verity echoed back and she knelt on the bed then.
"Look at you," Mark said, gesturing to her. "You're clever…talented…live in Tribeca…and what am I? A cop who couldn't afford college…I'm not that good at art…and why do you think I prefer coming here than having you at my place? My place is nothing compared to this. I know we come from different worlds and I know that you're nothing like your parents or their friends…but there are times when I just find it embarrassing to admit things to you."
Verity didn't know if she felt hurt or upset for him. She looked down to her quilt and laced her fingers in her lap. Mark peered over to her, noting that she wasn't even looking at him. She shook her head slowly and exhaled a sharp breath.
"You don't need to feel embarrassed about anything with me," Verity said. "And honestly, I'm kind of hurt that you would think I'd even judge you for anything. You think I care that you don't have a penthouse in Manhattan? I don't. None of that means anything to me, Mark…I don't even own this apartment and you know that."
"I know," Mark said to her. "Maybe it's not embarrassment…maybe it's me once again wondering if I'm good enough for you."
"I don't understand," Verity said. "Why would you think that? I love you, Mark. You think I care about material things? I don't. I've never cared about that."
"I do know that," Mark said to her. "Maybe it's me…I'm too proud to admit that I stopped doing something I loved because I didn't have the money to pursue it…too proud to tell you that I don't know if I'm going to have enough money to send Angelina to college if she doesn't get a scholarship…"
"Mark," Verity sighed his name and he closed his eyes. She shook her head and lowered herself to lay next to him, only propping her weight up on her elbow and moving a hand to sit against his chest. "I don't want you to feel like that."
"I know," Mark said. "And I know that I am projecting all my insecurities onto you and it's not fair. You would've understood. You always understand…I guess I just don't want to burden you with things going on in my life."
"What? Like I haven't burdened you?" Verity asked and Mark looked her in the eye, allowing his lips to tug upwards into a smirk at that. She shook her head and ran her hand up his chest and finally cupped his cheek in her hands. She shook her head slowly. "We're in a relationship and the way I see it that's not changing anytime soon because I love you. Unfortunately for you that means your worries become my worries and you're going to have to get used to that."
"I've never had that before," Mark said. "I've never leaned on anyone. Our aunt didn't exactly tell us to come to her with any worries we had…and Angelina needed me to be the strong one…it's always been me against everyone else."
"Now it's us," Verity whispered and Mark continued to eye her with adoration. He reached his hand up to let his fingers tangle into her hair, softly stroking it.
"What did I do to deserve you?" he wondered in a whisper.
"Happened to be in the right place at the right time," Verity said.
"Then I'm ever so glad for that," Mark replied and he sat up to kiss her.
…
Verity was excited for Janet's wedding. She was happy for her. She watched her and Robert together and she knew they were perfect for each other. He was mellow compared to Janet who was talkative. They balanced each other out perfectly. She knew that it was going to be a busy day and she had been prepared for it, making sure she got an early night before the wedding. She was staying with Janet at the hotel where the reception was being held. Janet had said she only wanted Verity as her maid-of-honour. There were no other bridesmaids and so the two of them had shared a bottle of champagne and had a relaxing evening before the big day.
Mark had waved Verity off after she insisted he stay in her apartment while she was gone considering it was closer to the venue. He'd walked her to the subway and kissed her slowly before she'd gone through the barriers. He had made his way to the church for the ceremony with the invitation she'd passed to him. He was in awe at what he saw. The aisle was lined with flowers at the end of every pew and then dotted around at the altar. The church was almost full and Mark tried to make himself anonymous, sitting at the end of a pew towards the back of the church and drinking in everyone's appearance in different coloured dresses and suits.
He had taken an order of service and looked down at the happy couple's face peering back up at him. He flicked through it, skim reading and trying to distract himself more than anything. He knew that once the ceremony was over and he was outside then he could find Verity and at least he'd know someone. He didn't do very well at small talk and he knew that. His job as a cop meant that he had to converse with people and he was good at his job. He was good at what he did, but he always preferred the investigating and putting pieces together over interviewing.
"I suspect we should have known you'd be here."
Mark turned his head to the side as he realised the voice was addressing him. Looking up, he saw Dorothy and John Daniels stood in the aisle. Verity's parents would have been invited. He shouldn't have been surprised by that. They were staples in the community. Mark moved to his feet, looking between the two of them and knowing that they hadn't left things in a great place last time he'd seen them.
"Verity asked me as her date," was all Mark said to them.
John sniffed and Dorothy kept her nose upturned like she'd smelt something rotten. They were dressed impeccably. Dorothy wore a dark green long dress with a shawl over her shoulders, hair neatly curled around her shoulders. John wore a smart three-piece suit and Mark felt slightly underdressed with just a dark blue shirt and tie tucked into navy trousers and a blazer. He'd forgone a waistcoat and now wondered if he should have.
"Still together then?" Dorothy asked from him.
"Still together," Mark confirmed, trying not to let his tone come across as too dry. He didn't want to make a scene. "You know, it doesn't need to be like this."
John chuckled. "Verity will come crawling back eventually," he assured Mark.
"She's your daughter," Mark said to them and he swore that a flicker of sorrow passed over Dorothy's face. "I know that I'm not your first choice for her, but I love her. I love her and I want her to be happy. Don't you want that for her?"
Dorothy kept silent and John sighed. "Mark, perhaps we should talk outside? Man to man?" he said and the husband and wife exchanged glances between each other. Mark didn't know if he was making the right decision in following John back outside of the church, but he chose to follow him. Coming to the path in the yard, John veered off, standing on the solid grass as people continued to stream into the church. Mark tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
"I know that you may claim to love my Verity, but believe me, she's not all that she seems," John said to Mark who simply remained stoic with a frown on his face.
He wasn't entirely certain if he wanted to listen to what he was about to be told.
"James was besotted by her and she tried to ruin him with her lies about him stealing her work in college," John said. "She was convinced that he used her when, in reality, he did no such thing. Why do you think she never brought her claim to the dean? She had no evidence because it never happened."
"Why would she lie about that?"
"Why would she lie about a lot of things?" John wondered. "She would do it at school too…claim that kids would pick on her…take her things…it never happened…she wanted to be the centre of attention. She liked causing trouble for others and acting the victim. She's done it with you too, hasn't she? About the Jacobson's?"
"You know about that?" Mark questioned, brows knitting together.
"Derek Jacobson came to ask me for my lawyer's number," John said, shrugging and tucking his own hands into his pockets. "He told me what Verity had done…how she had ran to her new boyfriend with claims that Derek had committed fraud after she'd accused his son of trying to hurt her."
"Because he did."
"Again, it is just her word against someone else's and this is a pattern with Verity. She's always the victim," John said.
But Mark shook his head firmly. "I'm a cop, Mr Daniels," Mark said. "I've met all kinds of people in my line of work and you get to know when people are lying and telling the truth. That night Verity came home with a bruised cheek and she told me what that boy had tried to do to her…how he'd hit her…tried to pull her skirt up…and she wasn't lying to me. She is no liar and the fact that you can stand there and accuse your daughter of lying when that boy tried to rape her…do you really think so little of her? Do you really disapprove of our relationship so much that you're willing to discredit her like this? Make me turn against her? Question her?"
"I just want you to have the facts," John said.
"I have the facts. The fact is that I love your daughter and I'm not leaving her," Mark said. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get back inside."
"If you want facts then I have some cold, hard facts for you," John said, stopping Mark before he could turn on his heel and walk back inside. "Your sister wants to go to college to train and become a doctor. You have nowhere near enough money to send her."
Mark shook his head. "How the hell would you know that?"
"I'm no idiot," John said. "I did my research on you. I need to know who I am dealing with considering my position in New York society. You have a cop's salary and your parents had no will and so everything went to your aunt. You're saving to send her to college and that's admirable. Truly, I think that. You're a man who wants to provide for his family, just as I am."
"I do what I can."
"But it won't be enough," John said. "And that is why I can make you an offer…I can help get your sister into college. She won't even need a scholarship. She'll be comfortable…and you can live knowing that you helped turn her dream into a reality."
"And the catch?"
"Leave Verity."
"No deal."
"Really?" John asked. "Because the way I see it your sister will need all the financial help she can get and you won't have enough. No matter how many extra shifts you pick up…it won't make a difference."
"I'll find a way," Mark said.
"And when you can't? When you have to disappoint Angelina?"
Mark froze. He didn't like his sister's name coming out of that man's mouth.
"Mark, I understand that you think you love Verity…but family comes first. You'll forget about Verity soon enough and she'll forget about you. She'll move on. She might even go back to James if he would have her. They made a good couple. He would give her everything she could ever want."
Mark kept silent. His stomach was churning. He felt sick. Looking at John, he saw the man smirk, almost like he thought he had Mark where he wanted him.
"What would Verity say if she knew you were doing this? Her own father?"
"It's up to you to tell her," John said. "But think on my offer. This is your sister we're talking about. Blood is thicker than anything."
John headed off back into the church and left Mark alone outside, thinking on what he had said.
…
The ceremony had gone off without a hitch and Verity had managed not to trip up or do anything else that might have been embarrassing. She'd stood by Janet's side the entire time, holding her bouquet of flowers and watching the couple exchange vows. She had struggled to see Mark in the church, but it was packed and the sea of faces was intimidating. Once they were outside and posing for photographs, she'd spotted him but had only spoken briefly with him before Janet had insisted she accompany her back to the hotel to freshen up. Mark had told her that he would meet her there.
It was only when he got to the venue did he walk in, his mind still whirling over what had happened earlier that day. How did he tell Verity? Did he even tell her? He knew if he did tell her then it wouldn't be at the wedding. She was having fun and Janet needed her. It was her day.
The hotel ballroom had been decorated impeccably well, tables lining one half of it and a massive dancefloor uncovered the other side. There were mirrors on the walls that made it feel double the size it was. The round tables were covered in tablecloths, candles and flowers. The long table at the front was also decorated similarly in pastel colours. Verity had sat with Mark and he had tried to act normal for her sake, telling her how lovely the ceremony had been and telling her how lovely she looked.
"Have you been accosted by my parents yet?" she wondered as they tucked into dessert of crème Brule. Verity licked her spoon, elbow on the table and eyes set on Mark.
"I spotted them," he simply said to her and Verity rolled her eyes.
"They haven't said anything to me," Verity replied. "I should've warned you they might be here. Robert's father and my dad go way back. I told Janet not to rescind their invite. They're not worth it."
"You're okay with this?" Mark asked. "You're okay with them being here and not being on speaking terms?"
Verity put her spoon down and shrugged, picking up her champagne flute. "It's weird," she confessed to him. "And not ideal, obviously. But they made this decision, not me."
Mark just nodded his head once. "I don't like coming in between your family."
"You're not," Verity assured him. "They put you there."
Mark wanted to reply to her, but the woman sat the other side of her patted her arm and caught her attention. He ate the rest of his food before lapsing back into steady conversation. It was another half-an-hour before Janet came and tapped Verity on the shoulder, dragging her away again and leaving Mark alone. She kissed him on the cheek before following Janet.
Mark wondered where she'd gotten to after half-an-hour and the announcement came that the couple were going to take the first dance. He knew she wouldn't want to miss it. But as Janet and Robert stepped onto the floor, Mark spotted her. She was sat at the piano behind a woman stood at a microphone. No doubt Janet had insisted she play. Mark watched on as her fingers danced across the keys slowly before the singer began and he recognised the tune of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' from the piano. The singer had a soft and high voice, but it was melodic. Mark watched as Verity's head swayed along to the music. Janet and Robert remained embraced in each other's grip.
Janet held her train in one hand. Her gown was strapless and the neckline square. The lace detailing over the bodice and skirt was exquisite and she had her hair in curls and pinned to the nape of her neck. She looked lovely and Robert kept on looking at her like he was the luckiest man in the world. He twirled her under his arm once before holding her again and Verity looked up and over to them, her own lips curving into a smile before she glanced over in Mark's direction, still smiling.
As the singer came to the second chorus, more people began to head to the floor for a dance. Mark moved to his feet and slowly headed towards where Verity sat at the piano. He didn't want to distract her, but he didn't want to remain sat at the table when she wasn't there. Cautiously, he perched himself down on the piano bench, sitting on the opposite side of her so that he didn't get in her way.
Verity knew he was there, feeling his presence as she kept on playing and Mark swore he would never tire of listening to her.
'Take my hand…take my whole life, too…for I can't help falling in love with you…'
Verity's fingers lingered over the final keys before everyone on the floor started to clap and she just smiled and exchanged a soft laugh with the singer who lifted a hand in appreciation before she started singing once more with the string quartet that had set up behind her but Verity turned around on the piano bench, sitting on the same side as Mark.
"I had no idea you were playing piano," he whispered to her.
"Janet asked me to for her first dance and I could hardly say no," Verity replied. "Besides…figured I'd keep it a secret. You were surprised?"
"More than surprised," Mark said. "But you were amazing as always. Just a shame really."
"What's a shame?"
"That you missed out on the dance with everyone else," Mark said. "Because I could have sung that whole song into your ear as well."
"Elvis fan, huh?"
"I keep that hidden," Mark said and stood up. "May I have the honour of this dance, however?"
"I think I can grant you that," she replied and took his hand.
He led her to the corner of the dancefloor and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he took her waist, holding onto her tightly and swaying amongst other couples. Mark's hand ran down her back slowly, feeling the silk material against her skin as his chin remained next to her forehead.
"You know I love you, right?" Mark whispered down to her and she tilted her head up, looking at him and smiling.
"I know," she said to him. "What brought that on?"
"I just want you to know that whatever happens…I love you more than anything," he said.
"I love you too," Verity replied and he dipped his head down to kiss her, the swaying becoming minimal as they stood there. Mark pulled back as the song finished and they let go of each other to clap before the next song. But before Mark could take Verity's hand again, a new voice interjected.
"Don't mind if I cut in, do you?"
Mark wondered who the man was as he turned around and saw him. He was wearing a black and white tuxedo, dark brown hair neatly cropped on top of his head and piercing brown eyes with plump lips and a slightly crooked nose that made him look more rugged handsome than anything else. Mark's own lips fell into a flat line as he remained in the dark as to who the man was. It was only when Verity reached for Mark's hand did she speak the name.
"James," she said. Her ex-boyfriend.
