Jack
All right, Ill start. My full name is John Ryan Cartwright, IV, but Ive been called Jack since I was in diapers. Im single, never been married. My parents are Sandra and John Cartwright. I have two sisters, Courtney and Elizabeth. My Cartwright ancestors were English Puritans from Massachusetts who were among the first settlers in the state. On my mothers side my claim to fame is Nathan Hale as an ancestor, he said.
Jack, this isnt necessary, she informed him, because just listening to him drove home how truly unsuitable they were. She didnt belong in his world, never would.
It is necessary because weve created a child together, a child whos going to need both of its parents. If the only way to achieve that is by the two of us learning about each other, then I want you to know everything there is to know about me.
Seeing the determined look on his face, Lily didnt waste her breath trying to reason with him. Once he was finished, she would try to make him see that marriage was not a viable option.
Now lets see, where was I? You already know that Im a lawyer with the firm of Cartwright and Associates which was founded by my great-great-great grandfather. I became the firms managing partner last year when my father retired. I serve on the board of Eastwick Cares. I also serve on the boards of two other nonprofit agencies because I believe one person can make a difference and that by giving back to the community we make that difference. I own my home and have a boat that I like to take out on Long Island Sound whenever I get the chance. I gross roughly $250,000 a year from my law practice and have a stock portfolio that produces another six figures. My favorite food is spaghetti. My favorite dessert is bananas Foster. Rising, he came around the desk to where she stood. He brushed his knuckles along her cheek. And I have a real weakness for redheads with skin like silk.
Lily closed her eyes a moment and, just as she had done that night in December, felt herself grow weak at his touch.
Marry me, Lily. Make a home with me for our baby.
He made it sound so simple. Get married, raise their baby together.
It is that simple, he told her.
Only then did Lily realize shed spoken aloud. Needing to break the hypnotic pull he seemed to have on her, she stepped back and crossed her arms. Youre wrong. It isnt simple, she insisted. And she couldnt afford to make the mistake of believing it was. Shed done that far too often growing up. She wouldnt do it now. Not when she had her babys happiness at stake.
Why not?
Because we come from entirely different worlds.
If youre talking about the money
Im not, she said. But it is a factor. For starters, I dont own my home. I live in a rental apartment. My annual salary is substantially less than yours. I have a modest savings account and a small IRA account, but no stock portfolio. I have a five-year-old car and a bike, but no boat.
Those are material things. Theyre not important.
Its not just the monetary differences, Jack. You have ancestors you can trace back for generations. You have parents, sisters, a family. You know who you are, where you came from, she said, trying to explain. Do you know how far back I can trace my ancestors? Twenty-seven years agoto me. I do know that my name is Lily because thats what the note pinned on my blanket said and theres an L engraved on this locket that I was wearing, she said, lifting the gold locket. As for the name Miller, it was the name of the street where the church I was left in was located.
Lily, Im sorry
Dont be, she said and turned away, not wanting to see pity in his eyes, not wanting him to see the tears threatening in hers. Surely you can see now that the idea of us marrying, even if it is for the babys sake, is ridiculous.
Why? Because you dont have some pedigree? Do you really think that Im that shallow? That I would judge you on the basis of something as inconsequential as where you were born and who your parents were?
Id hardly call not knowing who you are or where you came from inconsequential. For all we know, I could be the daughter of an ax murderer.
Or the daughter of a king, he countered.
But kings didnt leave their babies. And wealthy, handsome men from prestigious families didnt marry orphans who not even their mothers had wanted.
She felt him come up behind her. So maybe I dont know where you were born or who your family is, but you know what I do know? He rested his hands upon her shoulders. I know that youre kind and caring. I know that as a counselor, youve made a difference in the lives of dozens and dozens of kids. I know that because of you a lot of the kids whove come through that door have a chance to make it, because counseling them isnt just a job to you. You care about them.
Since shed become pregnant, her emotions had been on a roller coaster. Tears which shed seldom shed even at the darkest times in her life were now always just a look or a word away.
I also know that while you may not have planned this baby, you already love it and that youll do whats right for it. He turned her to face him, tipped her chin up with his fingertip. And the right thing is for us to get married. To provide a real home and family for our baby.
But we can do that without getting married, she insisted.
How? By shuffling him or her from your apartment to my house? What kind of life is that for a child? What our baby needs is security, Lilyand I dont mean just financially. Our baby needs a real family and a real home with both parents there to tuck him in at night, to have both of us there when she wakes up from a bad dream. Dont you want our baby to have those things?
Of course I do, she told him. Being part of a real family had been the one thing shed wanted all of her life. It had been what shed put on her list for Santa. It had been what shed wished for each time shed blown out the candles on a birthday cake. And it had been the one thing she had never had. That she still didnt have.
We can never give our baby those things as single parents.
She knew he was right. Yet a part of her couldnt help but feel disappointed. What about love? she asked and lowered her gaze. The one thing she had always believed was that when she did marry, it would be to someone she loved and who loved her in return. Marriage is more than sharing a house with someone. What chance would a marriage between us have when we dont love one another?
Who says we need to love one another? We like and respect each other. Were going to share a child. And we already know that were sexually compatible. There are a lot of very successful marriages that are based on a great deal less.
Lily jerked her eyes upward. She had been so focused on what a marriage between them would mean to their baby that she hadnt considered what it would mean to her, to him. You mean you would want this to be a real marriage?
He smiled at her and Lily felt that fluttering in her stomach just as she had that night at the ball when he had looked at her the first time. I dont see why it shouldnt be. I intend to honor our vows and would expect you to do the same. Since I dont think either of us plans to lead a life of celibacy, it only makes sense that we would share a bed.
I guess youre right, she said because everything he said made sense.
I am. Youll see. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. And I think the sooner we get married the better.
A wave of panic hit her. But what about your family, your friends? What will they think? What will people say?
Theyll think Im a lucky guy, he assured her.
Or maybe they would think hed lost his mind. Perhaps they both had because she was going to marry Jack Cartwright. She only hoped neither of them lived to regret it.
She was as skittish as a colt, Jack thought as he looked across the seat of his car to Lily. Her hands were clenched, her body stiff and shed had him stop twice during the thirty-minute drive for bathroom breaks. Shed claimed it was a hazard of being pregnant, but he suspected a big part of it was nerves.
Not that he could blame her. He had surprised himself when hed blurted out that they should get married. But within minutes of doing so, hed realized it was the right thing to do. Hed known right away that Lily had way too much pride to allow him to take care of her and the baby financially. So he hadnt even bothered suggesting it. Besides he had meant what he saida kid really did need both parents. And while he might not have planned on becoming a father in quite this way, now that it was happening, he wanted to be a real father in every way. That meant providing his child with the same love and security hed known as a child. And the only way to do that was for him and Lily to become man and wife.
Once hed made that decision, he had approached her objections as he did an opponent in the courtroom. One by one he had shot those objections down. He hadnt exactly played fair, he admitted. When shed told him about her familyor lack thereofhe could only imagine how painful and lonely it must have been for her growing up. So he had used her own feelings about family against her and gotten her to agree to marry him. And before she could change her mind, hed set things into motionfirst by hustling her to the courthouse the next day to get a marriage license and now by taking her to meet his parents.
Jack thought about the ring in his pocket. Shed claimed she didnt need an engagement ring when hed suggested they shop for one. Hed never seen her wear anything except the gold locket. And while it was possible she was one of those rare women who didnt covet jewelry, after checking into her background he suspected few people had thought to give Lily shiny baubles. He also doubted that she would consider jewelry as one of the basic necessities in life. He wanted her to have the ring. Hed even planned to give it to her when hed arrived at her apartment to pick her up for the trip to his parents home. But one look at her and he could see she was a bundle of nerves. So hed decided to wait.
Are you sure Im dressed okay? she asked.
You look beautiful, he assured her. It was true. The silky skirt skimmed her still-trim hips and gave him a glimpse of those killer legs. The apricot-colored sweater top gently curved over her breasts and the large-grapefruit-sized bump in her belly. Were it not for that bulge, he would never have known she was pregnant.
Is it much farther? she asked.
About ten minutes, he said. Do you need me to stop again?
No. I can wait.
When he saw her plucking at her skirt, he reached over and caught her hand. Try to relax. Its just brunch.
I know.
But he knew the prospect of brunch with his parents and sisters had made her anxious. He assumed it was nerves that accounted for her allowing him to continue holding her hand for the remainder of the drive. This is it, he said as he approached the gates to his parents home. After hed punched in the code, the gates swung open and he drove along the landscaped driveway leading to the house.
Its beautiful. And big.
Not big enough when you have two younger sisters, he said, hoping to ease the rush of nerves he detected. All I can say is thank heavens for the mudroom. Its the one place I could go and not worry about being invaded by females.
She smiled. Im trying to picture you as a boy dodging your sisters.
Trust me, it wasnt easy, he told her and pulled the car to a stop in the circular drive. Quickly, he got out and opened the passengers door for Lily. He offered his hand, and once again she took it.
Thanks, she said.
When the front door opened, he squeezed her fingers and whispered in her ear, Whatever you do, dont eat anything my mother cooked.
Before she could respond, his mother was there. Lily, I cant tell you how glad I am to meet you. Im Sandra, Jacks mother.
Im pleased to meet you, Mrs. Cartwright, she began.
Its Sandra, dear, his mother told her and ignoring Lilys proffered hand, she hugged her instead.
Sandra, dont smother the girl, his father said as he appeared at the door. Im John Cartwright.
Mr. Cartwright, Lily said and looked relieved when his father merely took her hand in both of his.
Son, he said, acknowledging him with a nod. Youd both better come inside before your sisters and Alice attack this poor girl on the doorstep.
Yes, yes, come in, his mother told her. I do hope youre hungry, Lily. Alice has whipped up a fabulous brunch for us and I made my famous liver mousse.
Jack leaned close and whispered to Lily, Remember what I told you. Stay away from the liver mousse.
But Lily didnt stay away from the liver mousse. Jack bit back a wince as he watched her eat another spoonful, then reach for her water glass again. Be sure to save room for dessert, Jack told her. Alice makes the best strawberry shortcake in Connecticut.
Its true, his sister Courtney chimed in. She uses real whipped cream.
It sounds delicious, Lily said.
Jack tells us youre a counselor for Eastwick Cares, his mother said. He says that you work with the troubled teens in the program.
Yes, maam. She looked up, relief in her eyes as Alice whisked away the liver mousse. Thank you.
Lilys really amazing with those kids, Jack said. The number of teens who stay in school and stick with the program has nearly doubled since shes been there.
Its the kids who do the work, she informed him. All I do is listen.
Your family must be very proud of you, his mother responded.
Lily doesnt have any family, Jack informed his mother and wanted to kick himself for not telling his mother to steer clear of the subject.
What Jack means is that Im an orphan. I never knew who my parents were.
Im so sorry, dear. I didnt know. Jack. She said his name sharply. You should have said something to us. Now Ive gone and embarrassed this dear girl.
Im not embarrassed, Mrs. Cartwright, and please dont feel you need to apologize or feel sorry for me. The truth is, Ive always believed I was pretty lucky because Ive never had to worry about living up to anyones expectations but my own.
Shes right, Courtney said. Is it too late for me to be an orphan?
Everyone laughed and Jack was relieved to have some of the tension ebb.
Well, once you and Jack are married, youll be a Cartwright and well be your family, his mother said.