Chapter 8: Watch Out! Control Freak

 

Kong bounds out of the barn and follows us into the house. He smells the pizza and runs into the dining room. A high-pitched screech shatters the air.

I rush in. Everybody’s there. Daria stands like a terrified statue. Kong licks her, face to face.

Weasel orders, “Otis, do something! Before he eats our little girl!”

Mr. Dudley’s deep in conversation on his cell. He takes a second to say, “He’s not hurting her.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” says Dad. “Kong, come.” Kong follows Dad out of the room.

Daria jumps into her mother’s arms. She sobs and points a finger at me, “It’s her fault. She let him in.”

Dad returns. “Kong is big, but he won’t hurt a fly, Daria. I’m sorry he scared you.”

Kong leaps back into the room.

Daria shrieks and jumps on a chair.

“I’m sorry,” Dad says grabbing Kong’s collar. “He loves to open doors.”

“What!” exclaims Weasel. She wipes Daria’s face. “My daughter is afraid of all dogs. She can’t be safe in a house with an animal that can do that. Can you lock him up?”

Dad frowns. “He sleeps in Winifred’s room.”

“I understand your love of animals,” says Weasel. “I appreciate the fact that you are allowing Daria’s cat to be here. I’m worried about the consequences if your dog should be in the house. Could you please keep him locked outside until the wedding is over? I would be so grateful.”

Dad grits his teeth. “Yes, of course.” He goes out to put Kong in the stable. The dog can’t slide open those doors.

Daria glares at me.

I turn to the dinner table. Eight giant pizzas are stacked there.

“I’m not familiar with your kitchen, Winifred,” says Weasel, smiling. “Could you please set the table?”

“Why set the table to eat pizza?” I ask. “Dad and I usually eat it from the box with our fingers.”

She stares at me in shock, so I head to the kitchen and grab glasses, plates and silverware.

Dad comes in and sits down.

I set the plates in front of Weasel since she is standing in front of the pizza. She places the slices on plates like she’s the Queen of England. Except the Queen probably has servants do it.

“Winifred. I know we haven’t charted the division of labor, yet. Would you like to serve the pizza?”

I would have stared her down, but I can’t look into those eyes. Why doesn’t Dad say anything?

Claire says, “I’ll help.”

“Winifred is perfectly capable. After all, she is the Mistress-of-the-House.” Weasel’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

Claire blushes and sits down.

I look around. Dad stares down at his plate. David grabs Claire’s hand and smiles at her. She barely looks at him. Daria smirks. John winks and Scott makes a face at me that Weasel can’t see. I burst out laughing.

Weasel lifts her nose an inch, a horrible smile on her face.

The Mistress-of-the-House serves pizza.

We eat in silence until Mr. Dudley’s phone rings. “Sorry,” he says, turning it off. “This is an especially busy time for me.”

Dad asks, “What do you do?”

“I’m a diamond trader.”

“Wow, that sounds exciting,” Scott says.

Mr. Dudley laughs. “It’s like any business. A lot of long hours and hard work if you want to be successful.”

John asks him, “How do you get into a business like that?”

Weasel stiffens. I can tell by her face, she doesn’t want her husband to spill the beans.

Mr. Dudley doesn’t look at his wife and says, “I watched my dad die working the mines of South Africa. I was smart and learned everything I could. Finally, the owner took a liking to me. He had no children, so he adopted me. If he hadn’t made me his heir, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s a tight business.”

My eyes dart to the engagement ring on Claire’s finger, a single diamond in an antique setting.

“What do you call the shape of your diamond, Claire?” I ask.

“Marquis cut.” Claire smiles. “Isn’t it the most beautiful ring you have ever seen?” Her eyes shine in pride.

John adds, “It’s very unusual. Where did you find it, David?”

“I wanted a one-of-a-kind ring and found it in an antique shop. It took a lot of persuading to convince the owner to sell it to me. It belonged to her great-grandmother.”

Claire laughs. “She insisted on meeting me before she would sell it to David. Such a dear woman.”

Mr. Dudley says, “I tried to give David one of the diamonds in my collection, but he insisted on buying his own. That’s when I knew he was the man for my little girl.”

Claire blushes.

Daria adds, “I want your biggest diamond, Daddy.”

Mr. Dudley laughs. “You’ll get it.” He turns to my dad.

“What kind of spread do you have here?”

Dad answers, “Small, only a hundred of thirty acres. Right now, we have eleven horses. We breed, train and sell South American Paso Finos. Winifred teaches lessons.”

“Only two of you?” asks Mr. Dudley. “The right kind of horses can be big business. How’re you going to keep up with growth?”

“That’s the question of the moment. We’re looking to buy a stallion and are going to have to expand soon.”

We’re finished with pizza when Mrs. Dudley says, “I need to discuss the wedding plans with you, Charles. I wanted Claire to marry in Boston. All of our friends are there. It would have been much easier if she had waited until August for the wedding. There is so much to plan and so little time.”

“I want a small wedding,” murmurs Claire.

Weasel pays no attention to her. She barges on, “My daughter insisted that she get married here. It is the only time she has ever defied me.”

Claire looks down at her plate. How did Weasel have a child like her? I’m glad she’s marrying David. She only seems happy when she’s with him.

Mr. Dudley interrupts his wife, “I don’t think we need to go into that, Erminia. We’re here.”

Weasel glares at him and yaps on, “I haven’t seen the garden yet, but I’m sure it will be adequate once we fix it.”

Dad chokes on his Pepsi. David’s face goes white.

“Let’s discuss this in the living room,” Dad says, getting up.

“What a marvelous idea.” I cringe when Weasel entwines her arm with Dad’s. “I assume you want to take care of the dishes, Winifred. Come with us, Claire.” They disappear into the living room.

David stomps after them and says, “I’m planning to be in charge of the garden, Mrs. Dudley.”

Mr. Dudley says, “Excuse me.” He reaches for his phone.

Daria whines, “You promised to play with me, Daddy.”

“You’ll have to wait, Daria. Business comes first.” He leaves the room.

John says, “I’ll help you with the dishes, Win.”

“Mommy told Winifred to do it,” says Daria.

“We can all help,” John replies.

Daria scowls, “Mommy won’t like it.”

“Winifred is the Mistress-of-the-House,” says Scott, frowning at her. “Your mom said so.”

Daria turns on him. “You’ll be sorry.” She runs out of the room.

John and Scott clear the table while I start the dishes.

“How did you meet David?” I ask John.

“When I transferred to the university, we ended up sharing a house with two other guys.”

“John is going to be a big-wig lawyer,” announces Scott proudly.

“Defense lawyers aren’t usually big-wigs, Scott. I have to pass the bar, first.” John smiles.

“Piece of cake,” says Scott.

“Do you have plans for college, Win?” John asks.

“No. I only want to train and raise horses.”

He frowns. “You still need a college education. This ranch could grow into a large enterprise where it will be necessary to have management and accounting skills.”

Scott adds, “You’d better decide soon. Unless you have the grades and the money, universities are making it harder to get accepted.”

“Do you have plans for college?” I ask Scott.

“One more year of high school and then I’m going to Yale.”

The last dish slips out of my hand, splashing soapsuds on my face. Yale? I never thought I’d meet anyone who could go there.

“What will you study?” I ask.

“Forestry and Environmental Studies. There’s got to be a better way to stop global warming and save endangered species.”

I finish the dishes, overwhelmed about my future.

David pokes his head into the kitchen. “John, Scott, can I talk to you?”

They leave the room.

I wander out the back door and sit alone on the porch steps. Nervous and depressed.

Claire comes out the screen door. “Do you mind if I join you, Winifred?”

Yeah. “No.”

Kong hears us and howls mournfully.

“I’m sorry about your dog.”

“He’ll be okay in the stable. He’s not used to being alone.”

She sits down beside me. “I’m sorry my mother has been bossing you around.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Claire says, “Did David tell you I’m adopted?”

“Lucky for you.” Oops. “Sorry.”

“Mom can be very demanding. She practically raised her ten siblings by herself. Her family was poor and her alcoholic parents died in a car crash.”

I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine raising anything but horses.

Claire continues, “I’d like to ask you something that is very important to me.”

“Shoot,” I say.

“Will you be my maid-of-honor?”

“Me?” I can’t believe she’s asking me.

“You are so important to David. And I hope we can become friends.”

“You must have a best friend.”

“She’ll be my matron-of-honor because she’s married. Even if she wasn’t, I would want you to stand up with us.”

I hold back tears. What is the matter with me?

She adds, “It won’t be easy for you. I haven’t told Mother, yet.”

Oh-oh. My heart thuds to my toes.

“I know it’s a hard decision to make. You don’t have to tell me until we buy the dresses. Think about it, please?” She stands.

I jump up and grab her hand. “I’d love to be your maid-of-honor.”

She hugs me. “Thanks. I hear you moved out of your room.”

“Daria’s kind of taken over and I don’t like Godzilla.”

“Godzilla?” Claire laughs. “What a perfect name for that horrid cat. Come on, I’ll walk you up. I hope it’s not too bad.”

We go inside, climb the stairs and I unlock my door.

Claire hurries to the floor mirror.

“Oh, how beautiful!”

“All the furniture belonged to my mom.”

She runs her fingers over the beautiful chest of drawers. “Your mother has wonderful taste. Can you tell me about her?”

“You’ll have to ask David. She died when I was born.”

“I’m so sorry. Forgive me. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault that my brother never talks about her. I used to ask Dad questions, but he looked so lost, it was worse than not knowing about her.”

Claire says, “Don’t you have any relatives you could ask?”

“Some distant cousins. They live in Europe.”

“Surely there is some information inside these trunks.”

“Haven’t opened them.”

Surprise fills Claire’s face. “Why not?”

I shrug.

“If it were me, I’d have to know what’s in them,” she says.

Why haven’t I opened them? Probably because I forgot they’re here. Or because I’m busy with the ranch. Or maybe because I’m afraid to.

“Maybe I’ll rummage around after the wedding.”

“If you don’t find what you want to know, I’ll get David to tell me. Then I’ll tell you. A girl should know about her own mother.”

She sounds sad.

“Do you know your birth mother?”

“No. They sealed the papers and won’t tell me.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yes, it is.”

Claire moves to the door. “See you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Claire.”

I put on my t-shirt and wonder what’s worse. Knowing your mother is dead or not knowing anything about her.