Chapter 2. What If

The living room is where everyone talks. Charlie came to my room so we could talk privately about what was going on.

I'm so clueless. It seems like I don't know anything. Even Mark and my dad and John seem to know more than I do. Mark told me, and since he and my dad made a bet the other night, Mark must have heard it from his dad. Man, my head hurts.

While everyone else talks about what's going on, I'm not paying attention. Even though I should be listening, I'm not. Just like in Math class on Friday, I don't answer right away to anything. My dad takes my arm and gently shakes it. Nothing was there.

"Yes?" I ask. I still have my eyebrows up because I don't get it.

"How much did you hear of that?" My dad asks. I shake my head no and feel a little embarrassed because I'm sure he told me something. John looked like he was mad, but Mark just laughed. "Well, I bet John here my business, or in this case, your business, which is your inheritance. He can only get what is rightfully his if he or one of his relatives marries you." Now, my eyes and eyebrows are growing bigger.

"You've got to be kidding me!" I say. "You are so dumb. You bet MY business, and almost my wedding in the future. So, I guess this isn't the future anymore." I don't know why I'm agreeing to this, and both John and my dad are surprised that I am. Mark is looking at his phone, but he looks up when I answer. I'm not really shocked, but now I know.

I still wasn't on board. I knew I would, though. I don't want my dad to lose the business he's worked so hard to build and give it all to John, who only cares about himself. I did agree to hear the orders to see if I could follow them. I knew I'd do anything for my dad, as I've already said.

"Any strings? Or are we just going to run away and give up?" I tried to make things better when they were bad. I think it's dark, at least. Right now, I don't want to get married. I don't think Mark does either, but he's going along with it to make his dad happy, just like I am. Even though I can tell he doesn't like him, he still wants his dad to like him. My head hurts again.

"No, not quite:. John says. He takes something out of his briefcase that I've never seen before. There looks to be about 10 pages.

"What is it? I ask. He gives it to me. I read the first few words. "A marriage agreement?" Mark was paying attention.

"A what?" He asks me if I'm shocked as much as he is.

"The agreement to get married. A few other things also happened. Like the ones Yanna talked about." John says. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with my dad. He's just keeping an eye on things. But not really, because John ran everything, said everything, and was in charge.

"A wedding the way it used to be?" I read. I saw a note written next to it. "White dress, flowers, wedding rings, and vows. There were people there, cake, and many other things." The list of things that needed to be done was long.

Mark came over to check out the paper. "Engagement ring shopping. Yanna goes to get her ring. Mark pays for everything. Done before the wedding... When is it?" I think he's interested in the wedding. Our wedding I guess.

I looked for the date everywhere. It was there. Oh boy. "The 18th? After two months!"

"Yes, I know it's short notice, but I have a team of planners who can help." John tries to make her feel better, but nothing helps.

"I have school. I can't plan a wedding or go shopping for an engagement ring. I'm not even 18. I agree, but why does it have to be so big and happen so fast?" I knew the answer to that already. Two millionaires want people to know about their businesses. Listen to another song from The Sound of Music. I'm doing well.

I thought of something that should be done by all Romero women. "Do you like the dress?" I ask and look at my dad, whose eyes get big when I do. I used to be very angry, but now I'm just sad. All of the Romero women wear the wedding dress that their mother wore. The dress my grandmother was wearing got ruined, so that's the end of that. On the other hand, my mom's dress was still in great shape. At least, I think that's the case. I've always wanted to get married there, too. I have to have that dress no matter what.

"How do you feel? A bridal shop is a good place to look for one. With my help, you might be able to get a time at Kleinfeld." John says.

"No, I need the dress my mom wore to her wedding." I say getting up. "Other than that, I can't get married. It has to be that dress."

"Why is everyone so upset?" John asks again. I'm starting to get why he's such a jerk.

"We always do that." At last, my dad says something. "Tradition says that all Romero women should wear the wedding dress that their mother wore. The dress is not here. It's about her mother:. He pauses. "In Manhattan."

My eyes get very big. "Do you know where she is?" It's a quiet thing. It sounds like I'm swearing when I talk about her.

He nods. "Yeah. About two years ago, she got in touch with me to see how I was doing. I can give you her phone number and address if you want."

I nod. "Thank you dad." I'm almost too quiet to speak. I'm nervous. What if she doesn't send the dress or, even worse, doesn't want to come?