"I appreciate how you've been with Tiffany."
It didn't take much for me to put it together. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. He knew Tiffany would get what she wanted in the end, and if she wanted me, better she was married to a cop than a construction worker. Compared to Corbin's Wall Street internship, even law enforcement was pitiful. "I appreciate it," I said honestly. "But the truth is, no part of me wants to be involved with the system. I want my record expunged, but not bad enough to be a cop. Not anymore."
He chuckled. "I tried to tell you years ago. They're all rotten."
"I know that isn't true, but more rotten than not. I'm sorry if that changes how you feel about the wedding."
"It doesn't. How do you like construction?"
"It's what I know, and since prison threw me into some unfamiliar areas, I gained skills it would've taken me much longer to master outside."
He slid his heavy glass back and forth over his desk, the sound like a saw on wood. "So you plan to work your way up."
"Given the opportunity, yes. I know I can manage a crew, it's just a matter of getting there."
"Good." He nodded slowly. "I like to hear that."
It made no sense that he considered construction a suitable job choice. If this wasn't about making me into a more presentable son-in-law, then what? "So you're still on board with a wedding?"
"On board?" he asked. "I'm manning the ship. I'm going to put in the phone call tonight and book my baby the first available date."
"I think maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves," I said. "I'd like to be a little more stable before making a commitment like this. The timing just isn't right."
"It's the Ritz, Manning. The timing will be right, whatever they say. You don't want to disappoint Tiffany, do you?"
"No, but I don't see the reason for the rush."
"I never said there was a rush, but you know Tiffany. She's impatient." He finished off his drink and set the glass on the sturdy wood surface of his desk. "How would you feel about a summer wedding?"
"I feel summer is soon. Summer is now."
"When you know, you know, right? Like I said, I just want Tiffany to be happy."
The way he said Tiffany snagged my attention. As if he were clarifying something. "So do I, but like I said, it's not the right time." I couldn't help but think of Lake right then. Once she was off to college, she'd have so much going on, I wouldn't occupy a thought in her head. Then, maybe, it'd be the right time to go through with this. Once she'd moved on. "I haven't even proposed."
"Tiffany, like her mother, has expensive taste," he said. "It's probably my fault, and I'm sorry for that."
"She knows who she's marrying."
"I can help with that, too." He adjusted his watch. "The ring. She doesn't need to know."
"The wedding will be enough," I said. "Tiffany will have to make do with the ring I can afford."
"Very well. You can always add to it over the years like I have for Cathy. No need to let that get in the way of the wedding."
For some reason, he wasn't hearing me. "I'm not ready," I said.
"Why not?" He stood, coming around the desk to his bar cart. "Are you having second thoughts?" he asked, refilling his drink.
"No." As difficult as it'd been to watch Lake process the news of the engagement, a part of me couldn't help noticing how proud, how happy Tiffany was to make the announcement. Over the last couple weeks, she'd slowly been slipping in comments and details about weddings. Apparently, she'd been dreaming up ideas since childhood. I supposed that was normal for young girls, though I couldn't remember any of that with Maddy.
"Good. Once everything's settled, we'll get the details of your record sorted." He came back to the desk but didn't sit. "Maybe I can even find you a position at my company with a salary you'd be hard-pressed to find without a degree."
Finally, I sat, setting my glass on the edge of the desk and almost missing the lip completely. I steadied the drink, my mind spinning. It was no small thing, what Charles was offering-a fresh start. "Thank you," I said carefully, because I didn't know if I should be grateful or wary. "I'm happy with what I have, though."
"Well, if you change your mind, the job will be there," he said and winked. "Of course, I can't promise I won't change mine."
Now, he was speaking a language I understood. An unsubtle threat to take it all away. At times, all of this felt unreal, as if I'd ended up here by accident. I didn't belong in this world, and maybe Tiffany would realize it. Lake, too, if she didn't already. Tiffany had a tendency to self-destruct, and I didn't want that. I wanted to give her not just the wedding she'd dreamed about, but a good life, too. Maybe Charles could take that away from us. He certainly held power over Tiffany. I wasn't sure, but if I'd already decided to marry Tiffany, then I guessed there wasn't any reason to put it off if he was offering us things we both wanted to go through with it now. A wedding for her, and a fresh start for me.