Free Web NovelChapter 75: Position (1)
"How is the wedding planning coming along?"
"It is going well. We have picked the church where it will be done and then we are thinking of having dinner at our new home. The garden will be well decorated and it is pretty spacious to hold all the guests," Beth answered.
Beth loved any opportunity to speak at the coming wedding. The wedding was coming fast as many suggested she do it soon before she started to show. It didn’t matter that it was happening fast because Beth had been dreaming of her wedding for so long that she knew what to do now.
Since it was now official that she was going to become Beth Humphrey, she was invited to sit with Jack’s family for them to get to know her. During the time of her secret relationship with Jack and when it was revealed that she was his lover, she was never introduced to any of his relatives.
The only relative Beth had met was Dorothy and that didn’t go so well. Still, Beth was determined to get Dorothy to love her. She had trapped Jack so she could certainly get his family to be around her finger.
"Planning the wedding must be exhausting while you are pregnant. It was such a tiring time for me even though I had help and I wasn’t pregnant then. I suppose that is why they tell us to wait to have a child after the wedding."
Beth smiled despite the rude comment. She looked to the woman introduced as Jack’s aunt. Beth couldn’t remember her name since the woman wasn’t worth remembering. She made a mental note to put this woman far away from where she would sit with Jack at the wedding. freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Jack was eager to have a baby so we took our steps in the wrong order. It isn’t tiring to plan my wedding. I am doing it to make memories with the man I love. It is all exciting for me," Beth answered.
Diane, Jack’s aunt, wasn’t impressed with the answer. It would always be embarrassing that not only was Beth pregnant before she was married but she had started as a mistress.
It was insulting for them to have to sit at the same table as Beth, pretending to be welcoming her into the family when she was coming with nothing. The only money Beth had to her name came from Jack so they had lost a heiress just to have a leech.
It was the stupidest mistake Jack could have ever made. A woman with a good background would have been better to accept.
"Leave the planning in the hands of who you have hired. You mustn’t stress yourself with wedding planning. Think of the baby," Dorothy spoke.
Diane shared a look with another relative at the table who must have had the same thought as her. Should Beth lose that child, she would lose the only reason she is being welcomed into the family.
Before news of the child, when it was heard that Scarlet was divorcing Jack, the family plan was to convince Scarlet to take him back or look for another woman suitable for Jack. The baby had saved Beth.
"My doctor frequents our home almost every day and has allowed me to continue with what I usually do unless there is some discomfort so I can continue with wedding planning. I always put the baby first," Beth said, touching her belly.
Dorothy took a sip of her wine. She would talk with Jack to get Beth to leave the work to whoever was hired. Beth could try to make herself useful another time.
"Did you like the gift that I sent?" Beth questioned, hopeful her selection had pleased Dorothy.
"I have not opened it. No need to send me anything," Dorothy answered. "You should focus on getting what the baby needs."
"Leave her be, Dorothy. She can get you as many things as she wants and buy what the baby needs at the same time. Jack has plenty of money for her to spend," Diane said, earning a few laughs.
Beth smiled despite how furious she was with Diane. She hadn’t done anything to the woman and yet from the second she arrived there were many unnecessary jabs. Beth expected it but it was too much for a first meeting.
Beth wished that the men weren’t taken somewhere else to drink so she would have Jack by her side. These women wouldn’t be so bold to say certain things with him around. It was also the reason she needed to quickly get on Dorothy’s good side.
When Dorothy spoke, all the women at the table hung onto her every word.
Beth couldn’t let Diane think that she had won so she replied, "Is it so wrong that the man I am marrying wants to spoil me?"
"Of course, there is nothing wrong with it. It would be strange if you didn’t agree to spend his money. No need to put on a show for us," said Diane.
Diane would have disliked Beth more if she came into this party trying to act all humble like she wasn’t enjoying the life she now had thanks to Jack.
"You are giving me a headache," Dorothy said, annoyed with the two.
Dorothy had planned the day for the family to sit together as it was a long time since they gathered like this. She was not in the mood to hear them argue over foolish things. If that was what they were here to do, they should get up and take it elsewhere.
"A headache? You should have something to drink or maybe some nice sliced fruit would be good for you now," Diane said, a wonderful idea coming to mind. "Beth, would you like to bring her some water and slice a few of the apples we have in the kitchen? The bowl with the apples is near the knife."
Dorothy was confused by Diane suggesting Beth bring her sliced fruits at first, but then she realised what Diane intended to do. She didn’t speak up to help Beth as it was not her job.
It was unavoidable that some of the relatives would want to show Beth her place in the family. The Humphrey’s relationship with the Collins was now strained so those who once benefitted from the union did not enjoy Beth’s company.
Beth laughed, finding Diane to have lost her mind to suggest that she go cut apples when she was a guest here. "There are plenty of maids around for you to call upon one to get what you need. Perhaps the sun is getting to you. Should we go inside?"
"I am asking you as her daughter-in-law to do something to help her feel better. Is cutting apples beneath you, Beth? Isn’t that something sister?" Diane asked, looking to Dorothy to get Beth to agree.
"I don’t expect everyone to cater to me," Dorothy answered.
"Her interests only lie with Jack it seems. What a terrible start to entering our family. I was taught to take care of the mother of my husband. Maybe times have changed," Diane said, smiling as Beth couldn’t continue faking a smile.
Beth balled up her right hand. It was insulting to ask her to do this but she had to do it to please Dorothy. "I will get the apples," she agreed.
