The Austin Arrangement

CHAPTER 3: I HAVE NO CHOICE.

It's been less than a week of Marriage to Jeremy Austin,yet we haven't had a single civil conversation.
I don't see much of him,he doesn't like me so he's trying to avoid me as much as possible. Jeremy comes home at odd hours,leaving a mess of Empty Scotch glasses and Bottles in his wake.
The Guy is clearly an alcoholic that needs help,but it's none of my business.

The door to the studio opened and I turned around with a fright.
Thankfully it was only Tom,but I was still surprised but delighted to see his face."Tom,Hi."

"Hi,Darling."Tom crossed the studio towards me,and pulled me into a hug."It's been a few days,How are you doing?"

"I'm fine..I'm good."I was lying of course.Today was the day and I was a wreck,I'm surprised I made it through class.

"You don't have to hide your feelings from me,Darling. I had parents..I know what you're going through.
I came to pick you up just like we planned."

Just like we planned..Right of course, my head has been all over the place so I guess I forgot.
Tom asked if he could bring me to the cemetery for support,Finley is going to be there too.

"Thank you,Tom. I'll grab my things then we can leave."
I started clearing up around the studio and Tom did too.

"How are things with my Son?"

The dreaded question. Tom was the only one I could really vent to,but then again I couldn't really tell Tom how horrible his son was.

"Um sure..We're fine. Things are going great."Ugh,You might have overdone it a tad,Vanessa,especially with the fake smile.

"Again,You don't need to hide your feelings from me,Darling."
Tom stacked the chairs that had been used by the parents at class."I know my son is not the easiest person to get on with."

"He's not. Honestly I don't think he likes me very much,I feel like I'm getting in the way even though I never see him.
He's not happy about this Arrangement and I understand that."

Tom released a sigh,rubbing his forehead in frustration."My son is angry at me..Not at you.
I asked you to do this and you agreed, but he has a part to play in this too.
Jeremy needs to grow up and take responsibility,I'm not leaving my lively hood in his hands otherwise."

"I wouldn't have agreed if it wasn't for my Brother,he's already been through enough.
I wanted him to be able to have the future he had planned for."

Tom gave me a weak smile."He will never go without,Vanessa..And neither will you.
You're an Austin now..The world is at your fingertips."

The world at my fingertips.I can have anything I want because money is no object.Yet,I didn't care about buying designer shoes or a flashy New car,I just wanted to be stable.

I looked into Tom's eyes,he was old and worn out after putting decade of hard work into his business.
Long days and Late nights at the office,he should be retired by now. Jeremy is 27 years of age,Tom should he able to rely on his son to be a responsible man and pick up the slack.
As I looked at him I thought about the day we met,the day I agreed to marry his son out of pure desperation.

***

FLASHBACK

It was a Friday at the studio and we were mid way through Ballroom class. It was just another bad day,yet I was holding myself together for the sake of the people that had paid for my services.

"Now Natural turn"I said,and Tom turned facing the wall.
"Right Foot Forward,Left foot to the side.."He seemed to be getting the hang of it quite well without instruction."You're doing great,Mr Austin."