Married By My Father's Debt

ers around it. I have walked past it times but I never thought I would be going inside. When I was a kid I would press my face against the car window when we drove by thinking it was a museum

the King. I have never met him before. I do not want to be part of his family. The foyer is huge

down the stairs. "The King will see you

ts tighter. "I do not want

my stomach is all nervous. "Just. I

enough to marry into their family. I count at least a dozen pictures and they all look so serious. I wonder if they ever smiled in life or if they just do

le house. The King is sitting behind a desk looking perfect in his suit.

nd not look scared. I have dealt with people before so I

y up to the ceiling. There is a huge fireplace. There is a picture of the

King says, putting his fingers together. "Your fathers d

do not understand why my father would agree t

not scared. "Your father was trying to save his

e marrying someone I

ember that, Ms. Williams. If it was not for my family's money your company would not even

out your son? Does he know about this? Is he okay with marr

s family " the King says. "Just like

would like to meet him before I agree to anythi

him when the time is right. Not before. He is busy with work now and I

discuss it anymore. "That seems weird, " I say. "Woul

ait. You both need time to get used to the idea of this marriage. My so

s tone says he is done talking about

I will have to take steps to make sure it happens. I can affect your sister's educa

it nicely. I feel cold. I try not to sho

t pleased. "You are smarter than I thought, Ms. Wi

fight. I keep thinking about why the King does no

re both shaking a little. I can tell she is worried about me. "W

work. I have two weeks to decide about the marriage. I will meet him wh

s. "That is weird, " she

ing about this family today. I just want to go. The tiredness of the day is makin

ndness left in him or if the palace made him cold a time ago like it seems to have made everything else cold. I try to picture his face. I came up with nothing. Just a vague idea of someone who has al

s away thinking about my face in the same way that I am thinking about him. I have no idea that the King's strange del

hen I was feeling sad and upset.. Somehow without meaning to I end up back on the same street in front of the same café with the litt

ean anything even if I did see him. I tell myself a lot of things standing there

does something strange when I see a familiar pair of should