Marriage Arrangement

Grandpa turns his attention back to me and the lines at the corner of his eyes become more pronounced.

Unlike Uncle Austin, the looks he shifted to me is kinder.

“Come see me in my study after dinner. There is an important conversation we need to have,” Grandpa says to me and picks up his cutlery again. But I’m done with the food and ready to leave.

I release a deep sigh and feel Tessa lean in close. “I don’t think you will be able to leave tonight after all.”

I get what she is saying. It’s past 7 PM and we are still on dinner, and by the time I finish my meeting with Grandpa, the clock will be hitting 9 PM.

“Who says I can’t leave even at midnight?” I reply to Tessa.

She shrugs and leans away. Then with something like a proud smile, she says softly, “I almost forgot who you are. You are Christopher Moore. You get whatever you want.” Then she forks a piece of beef into her mouth and chews it slowly with her gaze still on me.

I don’t agree with Tessa on this. While it looks like