An Engagement: A New Pioneers Short Story by Deborah Nam-Krane

THE ENGAGEMENT OF ANNABELLE
HENDRICKSON AND STEPHEN ABBOT
     
    Annabelle Hendrickson ran down the
stairs. Her father Gerald smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"Yes?"
    She saw Jim’s breakfast dish and
empty juice glass. She sighed as she sat down. "I missed Jim again,
didn’t I?"
    Gerald sipped his coffee. "I’m
afraid he doesn’t keep the same hours you do."
    Annabelle cleared her throat.
"Sorry, I tried not to make too much noise getting in."
    "Well, of course, it wasn’t just
you."
    Annabelle placed a piece of toast
on her plate and reached for the jam. "Aren’t you glad Stephen
didn’t let me walk home by myself?"
    "What kept you out so
late?"
    Annabelle took great care spreading
her toast. "We had dinner and then a movie."
    "Where did you eat?" She hid her
smile as she bit into her toast. He wasn’t going to make her lie
about the movie.
    "That little Italian place on
Beacon Street."
    "Excellent choice. I’m sure you
picked it."
    Annabelle put down her toast. "I
picked Stephen too."
    The smile was replaced by the calm,
measured expression he wore so often. "I won’t stop you, but you’re
not stupid. He has trouble controlling his drinking now and he’s
only twenty-five. What do you think he’ll be like when he’s
thirty?"
    It depends on whether his father
is still alive , Annabelle thought. "How would you know how much
Stephen drinks? Are you paying bartenders now to keep tabs on
people?"
    "Word gets around if you’re not
discreet."
    Annabelle clenched her juice. "Dad,
how many times do I have to tell you? Don’t listen to anything Alex
Sheldon" — she practically spat the name
out — "says. Everything he does is for his own
gain. Why you hired him I will never understand."
    "He has the potential to be a
successful investor, and so far I’ve been impressed with his work.
He’ll go far. Of course, I’m not the only one who thinks highly of
him."
    Sometimes Gerald was cruel.
"Stephen’s too kind to push Alex away because they’ve known each
other so long."
    "Really? Because I thought he was a
good complement for your young man. I’ve never seen him be anything
but upstanding in public, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him
drunk."
    "Stephen doesn’t want to admit that
Alex uses him. Since when are you blind?"
    "Sometimes, my dear, you have to
find ways for people to be useful."
    Annabelle sat back. "What use could
you have for Alex?"
    Gerald picked up his coffee. "One
never knows."
    ~~~
    Annabelle met Stephen later that
day for lunch at the Ritz. After they ordered, Stephen leaned
in.
    "Stop teasing me," she whispered
involuntarily.
    "Now why would I tease
you?"
    "Because I said lunch and not
dinner."
    "Did you get in trouble when you
got home?"
    "Just a slap on the wrist this
morning."
    "Does that mean that you haven’t
told him yet?" He sipped his drink.
    She shook her head, unable to stop
looking at him. "I wanted to tell Jim first."
    Another sip. "Good plan. Jim
doesn’t hate me."
    "He doesn’t hate you — "
    "He just doesn’t think I’m good
enough for you."
    "Most men aren’t thrilled with
their daughter’s boyfriends."
    "Is that all I am?"
    She smiled. "Well, most fathers
aren’t crazy about their daughters’ fiancées either."
    "Really? I’m pretty sure John
Bartolome would be ecstatic if Lucy picked one from her many, um,
suitors."
    She frowned. "I can’t stand that
woman."
    "Well, she’s not your
type — "
    "I have no idea why she thinks Jim
isn’t good enough for her, but I’m glad."
    "Shame your father doesn’t feel the
same way."
    "Poor Jimmy," she sighed. Her
brother had pined over haughty Lucy Bartolome for the last two
years. She was pretty sure he’d get over it if their father would
leave him alone.
    "He’ll come around as soon as Lucy
marries someone else."
    "Then let’s hope she picks a
suitable victim quickly." She tilted her head. "Why don’t we fix
her up with Alex?"
    "Ha ha ha," Stephen said, squeezing
her knee. "Trying to kill two birds with one