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Not normal I think, for a man who’s about to be married. But that’s the difference between marrying for love and not duty. Thomas had reiterated before he left that he was going to be keeping an eye out to make sure nothing happened to her, and I can’t fault him for that, but she was my responsibility now.
I ignored and avoided my mother’s wing of the house for the rest of the day while I sat and planned. I had a list of names that I needed to call and put the fear of hell into. In war you must always know your enemy. It’s the only way to win.
I didn’t want to strip my mother of her dignity, didn’t want to show the world that she had no real power. Something like that would destroy her. But I knew if I went around her and let them all know what would happen if they messed with Lucia, they’d be of no help to her. In short I was about to cut her legs out from under her.
I didn’t call the women, but their husbands. The men who do business with my family. After the first six or so calls I was sure the word had gone out. Mom’s hands were now officially tied and there was nothing she could do, short of making my life miserable. That I could deal with, as long as she left my Lucia alone.
I opened accounts for her with all the reputable establishments, using my mother’s list as a guideline. Wherever she shopped, the bills will be sent to me, and she was to be treated with the respect due my wife from here on out. I let it be known in no uncertain terms, that one false move on anyone’s part would spell danger for that establishment.
Yes, I was using my money and power like a whip, but it was for a good cause. Lucia had done nothing wrong but be born on the wrong side of the tracks, for that she should not be made to face ridicule and disdain.
As my wife, no one would dare fuck with her, not if they wanted to stay in business. And I have no problem taking that stand. Whereas mom and her cohorts had used their influence for evil, I was using mine for the good of my future wife and her family.
Once that was taken care of and I was assured that all would be well on that score, I was able to relax completely. I knew she would be dealing with a lot of those people in the next few weeks or months while planning the wedding and I wanted this to be a time of joy for her. As any bride should have.
It was that old world, genteel character of hers that was so well hidden behind her brash attitude that I wanted to protect. Mom had never had the chance to see that the girl she was so opposed to, was imbued with all the characteristics of her ideal. That in fact, Lucia, had more of an aristocratic bearing than even Helen.
I’d seen it. It was one of the things that first drew me to her. That air of sophisticated dignity, and that beautiful heart of hers that I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life protecting.
That night, I invited my fiancée and my new in laws to dinner. Thankfully, mom didn’t put in an appearance but chose to take her meal in her rooms, which was fine by me. It must be hard for her, me not pandering to her as I always did.
For a man who’d learned honor and respect all my life. Something that had been expanded on during my years in the service, it was no small feat not to give my mother what she wants. I’ve taken care of her since dad died, and for a very long time she was all I had.
It was easy to spoil her, she’s my mother after all. But I see now that all I’d done was feed the monster. All those times I’d sat back and watched her do the things she did, because of my own disinterest, were now coming back to haunt me.
I don’t think I’d ever quite forgiven her for Daniel’s wife. That one was a hard pass for me. I’d learned to value life since my first years in the marines, and to see one ended over such frivolous bullshit hadn’t set well with me. She doesn’t know that I know about her part in that whole ugly mess, but it’s one of the reasons my decision is so easy to live with now.
I knew she’d give it at least one last try before she left, but my mind was already made up. I had a choice to make and I chose Lucia, plain and simple. As far as I’m concerned it was a done deal. Already the house had a different feel to it. It was lighter somehow and I enjoyed my first meal in years since dad died.
