Stefan's hand wandered back to his pocket. This proposal had better work. Otherwise all the time and energy put into this girl would be for nothing. He needed a wife to appear respectable enough to get a loan. Because he was done with this town - and his father.
Working at the Mill had been as miserable as he thought it would be, and today had been the icing on the proverbial cake. While both of his brothers had gotten promotions and pay raises earlier this year - today Stefan had found himself demoted. Demoted!! Apparently his sales record was so terrible he was now going to have to assist another more successful, salesman. No other salesman in the company had to partner up with someone else. Nope, just him. All the work he'd put in had counted for nothing - the only thing that had mattered was that his sales weren't high enough. No matter that with all the errands he was being made to run, he had no TIME to make sales, no. No matter that he was the company owner's SON, no. Just the company's bottom line mattered. And apparently, he was a liability to that bottom line. Pushing his anger aside, Stefan once again concentrated on the task at hand.
Juliet chattered meaninglessly beside him, and he tried to answer as appropriately as possible so as not to alert her to the fact that he had no idea what she was talking about. Finding a quiet place at the beach on a beautiful day like this wasn't easy, but somehow he managed it. He steered her over to a quiet bluff, and reached a hand out to stop her.
"Juliet, dear, I really must ask a favor of you." he began, clearing his throat and reaching into his pocket again.
"Yes, what is it, Stefan?" she replied, mercifully stopping the inane chatter in response to his interruption.
"You know I have grown incredibly fond of you over these last few months. I would even venture to say you have enjoyed my company, as well. I know you want to leave this town as much as I do.. and I think I know the best way to do it. I'm purchasing a small but profitable farm in the Midwest, and I will need a loving wife to help me care for it. I realize this would take your far away from your family, but.. " he bent his knee and presented the ring as confidently as possible, "Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
Juliet gasped, and he watched a smile spread across her angelic face. She certainly was a looker, he'd give her that. He had never been able to accurately read her emotions, though, so he had no idea how this proposal was going to go. She reached out and took the ring, seeming to carefully examine it and think on her response. As she thought, he felt his stomach tying into knots. Finally, to his relief, her face broke into another smile.
"Yes! Of course, Stefan!" she cried, and slid the ring he'd picked out at the jewelers onto her slender finger. He stood back up, and she practically jumped into his arms. "I have hoped for so long that you would ask. I have prayed you would feel the same about me as I do you, but I was never able to tell for sure."
Embracing her, Stefan hid a satisfied smile in her shoulder. This was just what he needed to put his plans into motion. With her by his side, his respectability would certainly rise and doors would open that had been closed to him all his life as the "useless son" of a powerful man. Things could only get better from here.
"Well hello, young Mr. Tangle, what can I do for you?" asked the Bank Manager as Stefan approached him in the lobby.
Stefan took a deep breath and said as confidently as he could. "I need to see about a loan, sir."
"Well, now, son. Let's head over here to my desk, and we'll see what we can do."
The man made himself comfortable in his chair, and took his time pulling out some forms from his desk. Stefan tried not to fidget, but this could be the most important day of his life.
"So.. what would this loan be for?" the man asked, looking over his desk at a terrified Stefan.
"I have found a fertile property in the midwest, sir. I'm due to be married this holiday season, and I plan to move there and start a family farm. From everything I've read and heard, the soil there is like black gold, and a farm should make ends meet quite handily." Stefan wiped his nervous sweat surreptitiously off his palms, and waited for the man's answer.
"A farm, eh? I thought you were more of a salesman. Don't you work out at the Mill?" the man's brow knitted in confusion, then cleared. "I hadn't heard you were betrothed, either. Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials! Who is the lucky lady?"
"Thank you, sir. I'm marrying Juliet Bates, the teacher's youngest daughter. He has already given his blessing to the union. As for the sales position, it's never been my strong suit. I was merely biding time at the Mill until the time that I could find a profitable farming venture." Stefan reached for the briefcase beside him and pulled out some papers, handing them across the desk. "Here are the specifications on the farm. There's already a house built, although it's a bit run down. I plan to hire a local family to clean and fix it up before Ms. Bates and I move there."
"Well, son, let's see here..." the man trailed off absentmindedly as he leafed through the papers, "It does look like you've thought of everything. What does your mother think of you moving all the way out to Ohio?"
"I'm not sure she approves, of course." Stefan confessed, "It's quite a distance from here, and with the business booming at the Mill, her and Father would have little opportunity to visit. I have made up my mind, though. It's time for me to make my own way in the world."
The man smiled, shuffled some more papers importantly, and reached for a large book from a bottom drawer. Flipping through the pages, he finally found what he was looking for, and looked back up at Stefan. "I see here you have a healthy sum in your account already - are you sure you will need a loan?"
"Unfortunately, yes. The farm is marketed at just under double what my savings are, and there is the matter of furnishings and fixing it up, as well. The loan is quite necessary. As for collateral, I'm sure you'll find my father more than happy to vouch for me." Stefan said confidently, neglecting to mention that his father had no idea he had any plans to move and quit his job at the Mill at all.
"Well, then, son, let's see about getting your application filled out, here. I'm sure we can do something for an upstanding member of society such as yourself."
Stefan tried not to grin, schooling his expression into seriousness, saying only "Of course, Sir," and leaning forward in his chair to peer at the paper the man indicated.
The application in, Stefan had little to do but hope, wait, and wonder. He had assured his bride that everything was taken care of in regards to the farm and the move when things couldn't be further from the truth. Not only was the farm not purchased, but he was only able to front some of the money because he had cashed in on the property he had inherited from his Grandfather. Somehow, he had managed to do that without his father knowing, and Stefan had his prayers into the almighty that he wouldn't find out until long after he was gone.
Meanwhile, Stefan made sure to avoid arguments, and he dutifully followed the senior sales associate around, making as few waves in the company as possible. At home, his mother tittered over the upcoming wedding, and he put up with her mothering, never letting on that the wedding she was so excited about would be the last time she would ever see her "precious" youngest son.
Within a couple weeks, the man from the bank had contacted him, requesting his presence in the office again as soon as possible.
Nervously, Stefan made some time on a lunch break and walked from the Mill to the Bank, hoping nobody would notice he was gone.
"Ahh.. there you are, Mr. Tangle. Please, come in to my office, I've got some good news for you!" the man clapped him on the back, and Stefan felt his hopes rise deep within him.
Later, grinning from ear to ear and unable to help it, Stefan whistled as he walked back to the Mill. The loan had gone through! Now, all he had to do was make the arrangements to purchase the farm, the furnishings, and the labor to fix everything up before he and his bride would get there. The ten percent interest was exorbitant, but beggars couldn't be choosers. In this instance, he was definitely the beggar. And, as a bonus, the transaction at the bank was completely private, so his bride to be would never have to know he hadn't been able to afford the move and the farm purchase on his own. He mentally began counting the days until the holidays and the wedding planned after Christmas. He only hoped he could get everything settled before then - and without alerting his parents to his impending disappearance.
Juliet sighed deeply and looked back to the mirror in front of her. Her nerves had drained most of the blood from her face - or was it the cold that had done that? ... Either way, she acknowledged that she matched her wedding dress. Her father and mother had been yammering at her non stop for the last week, trying to find out where this farm she was moving to was. She kept telling them all she knew was that they had to take a train to get there... which wasn't completely untrue. They did have to take a train. She was just neglecting to tell them how far they had to take one... and that she had no plans to ever come back. Giving the mirror a secret little smile, Juliet looked around the small ready room at the church, wondering how so much could happen in such a short amount of time.
Just last week, she had signed her name to the farm deed at the bank in front of the manager and her fiancee. Or, at least that's what they had said those documents were. The week before that, she had finally turned eighteen legally and could marry who she chose. Not that her parents were blocking this marriage... but just in case they changed their mind, it was good to know she was still going to be able to escape. A quiet farm in the countryside with a handsome and respectable husband sounded like a nice life. ... But then, anything other than slaving away day after day for her mother, step father and sister, and her annoyingly angelic little brother, was a step up in her book. She had purposely not put any thought into the heir she would be expected to produce - because, surely, Stefan was a reasonable man and would give her time to get settled in before they began "work" on that.
Music playing in the church alerted her to the fact that it was time to emerge from hiding. She looked at the mirror one more time, made sure her smile was fully in place, then allowed her mother a moment to lower her veil.
The ceremony seemed to be over in a whirlwind of vows and congratulations, and before Juliet knew it, she was in her travelling attire and sitting outside the train station. She did wonder at Stefan's father's refusal to come to the wedding, but his mother had seemed nice. At least, until she started crying again about Stefan leaving town with his bride. Juliet wasn't sure how they'd gotten to the very end of their plans before his mother had found out, but she was glad that the train was due to leave very soon. Their luggage - all their worldly possessions - had already been loaded into the box cars, and all she carried with her was a small handbag and a hatbox. She'd been afraid her best hat would be squashed by the station workers, and had elected to keep it with her for the duration of the trip.
"Juliet, dear, it's time to go!" Stefan called, and Juliet stood up, collecting her things and her thoughts, and walked over to where he was, conversing with her step-father about all things farming. Not that he was a great farmer - after all, he only did it part-time when he wasn't needed at the school - but don't let anyone tell him that. God forbid he not be the best at something he did in life.
Juliet bid her mother, step father, and little brother goodbye. Her step sister hadn't even seen fit to come to the train station, claiming malaise. Waving jauntily, she took Stefan's hand and climbed aboard the train. Her new life was starting - and this monstrous machine was taking her there. She wondered silently what her new home would be like, and how many servants they were going to have as they found their seats near a window. Because, surely, she wouldn't be expected to take care of the entire home on her own, right?
Hmmm....me thinks Juliet was too eager to get away from her family to know what she was actually getting herself into. 😀
Definitely. She should have read the fine print. lol.