A Lowcountry Wedding (27 page)

“And boys in the McClellans.”

At that, Granny James brightened. “I always hoped Georgiana would remarry and have another child.”

“Mummy? Remarry?” Harper was shocked. “She couldn’t bear being married the first time. And that only lasted a few months.”

“Yes, but we got you out of it, didn’t we?”

Harper couldn’t help but smile at that. “I’d like to have a
few. Maybe three. Who knows?” Harper sipped her tea, wondering.

“You should. You’ve never looked more beautiful. Pregnancy agrees with you. Your skin is positively glowing. Though I must say, I could have been knocked over by a feather when you told us the news.”

“I was dying to tell you,” Harper said, warming to the topic. “I wanted to get past the first trimester, and with you arriving at the same time, I thought the announcement at the party would be special.”

“Well, it was. As was the announcement of your minister.” At this, Granny James’s tone hardened somewhat. “Atticus Green.”

“But you didn’t have anyone else in mind for the ceremony?”

“No, I didn’t. But it might be a problem that he is . . .” Granny James paused.

“What?” Harper asked testily. “Black?”

Granny James snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. I couldn’t care less what color he is. I was going to say he is a Southern Baptist. You’re in the Anglican Church.”

Harper laughed, relieved. “Oh, that. Don’t worry.” She tapped her baby bump. “We’ll make sure it’s legal.”

“You know”—Imogene picked up a crumpet and lavishly applied butter—“that does bring up a sticky issue. We have to contact our lawyers as soon as possible. You really must have a prenuptial agreement.”

Harper shook her head. “I don’t want one.”

“Come now, Harper, do be practical,” Granny James said impatiently. “There are countless reasons why you must get
one. Most prominently, you are much wealthier than Taylor. You have your trust, of course, and that is locked tight. But when I die, you will inherit a significant portion of my estate as well. You and your issue. I shall do what I must to protect you from the grasping hands of family members, including, unfortunately, your own mother. But you must take steps to protect your inheritance in this country. In this state. We mustn’t be emotional. This is business.”

“That’s not how I see it. This is family.”

“Precisely. You are about to be a mother. You must look after your child in your womb.”

“Taylor’s child, too. He’d never do anything to hurt our child.”

“I don’t believe he would, either. And having your financial matters in order will make you both feel much more comfortable and secure as you move forward in your marriage.”

“But isn’t a prenup mean-spirited? And to spring it on him now, after the invitations have already gone out, it seems . . . premeditated.”

“No, I certainly do not think it is either of those things. You are a very wealthy woman, Harper. You must think like one. I realize you may perceive contractual agreements to be unromantic, but they work as intended. We must look not just to our own futures, but the futures of our children. You must consider
them
. When you inherit, the new trust will be set up to include certain provisions to stop any assets from going to your husband or his new wife should, God forbid, you divorce. Or even your child’s ex in the event of divorce. The prenup simply prevents your inheritance from me from becoming marital property. Believe me, it keeps things simple. In fact, I’d be very
surprised if Taylor wasn’t expecting this. He’s a sensible man. After all, the house is already in your name.”

Harper’s face clouded. “Yes. He’s never mentioned it, but I sometimes wonder if that doesn’t bother him. Grate at his pride a bit.”

“It shouldn’t. He knows he couldn’t afford this house on his own. Where else would you live?”

“We could live in a smaller house. Off island.”

“Yes, but that’s not what you wanted, was it? You wanted Sea Breeze.”

Harper couldn’t argue this point. She did want Sea Breeze. Desperately. Not just for herself, but for Mamaw and her sisters.

Granny’s voice grew icy. “You can’t think there was any way under heaven I was going to lend you millions of dollars to buy this house with his name on the deed? You were not even married then. And even if you were, I would not have done it. I made the arrangements for Sea Breeze because of my love for you. No other reason. The stipulations I set up regarding the house protected you, as well as my investment. I’m quite careful with my money, as well you should be.”

Harper felt instantly repentant. “I’m so very grateful for what you did, Granny. You know that. But, I still don’t like the idea of a prenup.” Harper’s chest was constricting and she felt the walls of the room closing in on her. “I trust Taylor. I don’t want to think of my marriage in terms of
my
money versus
his
money. It smacks of control. Even superiority. Or worse. It makes me feel like my mother.”

“Because she had a prenup signed? Hers is a perfect example of why you need one!”

“Because it was all a business arrangement in her mind. A means to an end.”

“Come dear, let’s not argue. Bring the topic up with Taylor and see what he says. I feel quite certain you’re worried about nothing. And you can make me out to be the nasty person who is insisting.”

“Well, you are!”

Granny James lifted her shoulders and bit into her crumpet. She dabbed at her mouth daintily with the corners of the linen napkin Harper had brought. “You’ll see I’m right. It’s better to get this tied up quickly. Especially with a baby on the way.”

“It wasn’t planned. It just . . . happened.”

“Yes, dear. I know how these things happen.”

“Are you happy about it?” Harper asked, suddenly concerned. “You can be honest now that we’re alone.”

“Ecstatic.” Granny patted Harper’s hand. “At my age, we don’t want to waste too much time waiting for grandchildren.”

“Great-grandchildren.”

Granny James made a face. “Please, let’s keep that fact between us, shall we?” She smoothed the napkin with her fingertips. “Are you going to tell your mother?”

Harper’s smile shifted to a frown. “I suppose I must. I’m just not sure how to do it. We don’t communicate at all. I’m not sure she’d answer if I called her on the phone.”

“You did send her an invitation to the wedding?”

“Of course. She should have received it. Though, I don’t know if she’ll come.”

“She’ll come.”

Harper twisted her lips. “I’m not sure that I want her to come.”

Granny James looked off at the window, shuttered and draped. A new sadness was in her eyes, a heavy cloud over her demeanor that everyone had commented on to Harper since Granny James’s arrival. Even Devlin had taken Harper aside and inquired about Granny James’s health. “The fire has gone out of the dragon,” he’d said. It was meant to be funny but genuine concern was behind it. She’d lost weight and her hands seemed barely strong enough to carry the heft of the large diamond-and-sapphire ring that had been her engagement ring.

Harper had seen photographs of her grandmother when she was Harper’s age. She’d been a great beauty with aristocratic bone structure and a tiny, voluptuous body. She was a great lady of a lifestyle that belonged to her generation. She was an excellent horsewoman, a renowned socialite, a champion of causes, and a passionate gardener. She had almost single-handedly renovated the Greenfields Park estate to the showcase it is today. To see her now, tired and crestfallen, Harper felt suddenly afraid for her.

Granny James swung her head back. She was smiling. “Let’s give her a ring right now, shall we?”

“Who?
Mummy?
”

“Of course your mother. It’s early yet. She should still be at home.” Granny James reached for her cell phone and said with a twinkle in her eye as she dialed the number, “She’ll answer for me.”

Harper suddenly felt sick. She put her cup of tea on the tray, noting that her hands were shaking. Her mother had this effect on her. Somewhere hidden deep inside, and despite all her efforts to be independent, regardless of her successful relationship and getting married, becoming a mother, being the mistress
of her own house, she still wanted her mother’s approval. She clutched her hands together in her lap, watching Granny James sit with the cell phone to her ear, listening to it ring.

Suddenly her face grew animated. “Georgiana, dear. It’s me. Good morning!”

Granny James listened a moment. “I’m at Sea Breeze.” She paused, then rolled her eyes. “Yes, of course in South Carolina. At Harper’s house. We have wedding plans. Very exciting. You got your invitation? . . . Very good. . . . I’m as well as can be expected. . . . Yes, he’s settled in the Memory Center. Let’s talk about that later. Harper’s here, dear. She has some special news to tell you. . . . What? No, it won’t take long.”

Harper cringed. Obviously her mother didn’t want to talk with her.

“Must you always be in such a hurry? You can tell your driver to wait.” Granny’s voice brooked no disobedience. She looked up to Harper and waved her closer. “Here she is.” Granny held the cell phone toward Harper, her eyes bright with encouragement. She mouthed,
Tell her
.

Harper suddenly wanted to throw up. She felt cornered. Trapped. She reached out across the mattress, took the small phone into her hand, and brought it to her ear. Leaning back in her chair, she took a breath as she forced a cheery voice.

“Good morning, Mummy.”

“Harper.” Georgiana’s voice was coolly polite.

So,
Harper thought.
She remains unrelenting.

“You have some news?” Georgiana prompted. Harper imagined her mother glancing at her watch, foot tapping.

“Yes!”
Too much enthusiasm,
Harper told herself. She tried
to still her quaking nerves. “I have happy news, Mother. You’re going to be a grandmother.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“Mother?”

“I heard you. I’m just not quite sure what it is I’m supposed to say.”

“How about congratulations?”

“Well, I don’t know. You aren’t married yet. Are congratulations in order?”

“We’re very happy about it.”

“Then I’m happy for you, Harper. Truly. Congratulations.”

Harper couldn’t believe her ears. She heard real emotion in the words. Harper’s heart soared. What girl didn’t want to talk to her mother when she was having a baby? It was only natural.

“Thank you, Mummy,” Harper choked out, surprised to feel herself welling up with long-unshed tears. “That means a great deal. I’m so happy.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end, then Georgiana made a sound as if she was clearing her own throat, but when she spoke again, her tone was brisk. “You’re going to be a mother. Well, well, well. That changes things, doesn’t it?”

“Everything.”

“Surely you won’t stay in South Carolina now?”

Harper wasn’t sure she understood correctly. “Yes, of course I’m staying here. Why wouldn’t I?”

“You have your child’s future to think of now. Not only your own. Do you think living in the backwoods of the South is thinking of your child? What kind of a life are you offering him
or her? Consider the opportunities in England. The social connections. Darling, won’t you consider moving to Greenfields Park? You would make everyone so happy if you took over the estate. You could raise your child in the very best of surroundings with the very best people.”

“I think I am raising my children in the very best surroundings with the very best people. We’re really very happy.”

“
You’re
happy. Aren’t you concerned about Granny James? She dotes on you. Has all her life. She’s done everything for you. And Daddy, dear man. He’s been through so much.”

“Of course I’m concerned about both of them. But I don’t know that where I live is their decision any more than it’s yours.” Harper could feel her temper rising, any softened feelings from their brief moment before having disappeared. “Let it go, Mother. This is my home and this is where I’m staying.”

“Aren’t you being selfish?”

“
Me
selfish? Greenfields Park is where
you
grew up. Yet you turned your back on it and chose to live in New York City. I grew up in New York and chose to live on Sullivan’s Island. You can’t expect me to feel a binding loyalty to Greenfields Park when you yourself did not. You can even say I’m following your example.”

“You really mean to say you have no loyalty to Greenfields Park? That you would see it sold? A place where you’ve been happy?”

“I was happy there. The times I was allowed to visit. Anything was better than the dorms of whatever boarding school I happened to be enrolled in at that minute. I was happy at Sea Breeze, too. But I don’t think you care if I was happy at Sea Breeze because it doesn’t suit your plan for me. I was merely
a placeholder, wasn’t I? To take over your responsibilities at Greenfields Park while you live the big New York City dream you’ve always wanted. That’s why you had me, wasn’t it? And do you think that anything in this world could compel me to put my own child in that same position?” Harper paused to quell her rising emotions. “I think not.”

Harper glanced at Granny James. She had paled visibly. Her eyes appeared sunken.

After a long pause Georgiana’s voice went flat, void of emotion. “I didn’t know you felt that way. Pity. Once again, Daughter dear, we do not see eye to eye. Nonetheless I wish you the very best. Again, my congratulations.”

“Will I see you at the wedding?” The little girl in Harper, the one who always pictured her mother walking her down the aisle, needed to know. What did she have to lose?

There was a momentary pause, then her mother said in her crisp British accent, “I think not.”

When the line went dead, Harper thrust the phone back toward her grandmother. True to her career, her mother really was good with words. She was well aware that by repeating the very words Harper had spoken, cool and without emotion, the dagger would be all the more sharp.

“I don’t want to ever talk to her again,” Harper said, barely able to speak the words, her lips were trembling so. She had thought she’d grown accustomed to her mother’s vitriolic conversations. But today, damn her, Harper had once again slipped into the fantasy—for the briefest, sweetest moment—that her mother was truly happy for her. That she cared.
Fool,
she told herself.
When will you ever learn?