Contracted To Love

She’d just taken another sip when she saw Marilyn walking towards her.

Finally, she thought as she flashed a smile at her friend.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I was caught up in traffic downtown,” Marilyn said as she hugged Sarah before she sat down. “I don’t for the life of me know why I chose today of all days to go there.”

“Why? Is everything alright?” Sarah asked as she looked at Marilyn.

“There’s a festival of some sorts. I’m not so sure which one it is… there were floats and everything…”

“Well, you’re here now and there is a salmon calling my name,” Sarah said as she signaled the waiter. “Tofu tikka, right?”

Marilyn nodded.

“Yeah, you need to check your texts before you hit send,” Sarah smiled. “The text you sent me said something different.”

Marilyn raised an eyebrow.

“What did I send you?” she asked.

“To fu*k tikka,” Sarah said just as their waiter walked to their table. The horrified look on his face said it all; he’d heard Sarah.

“Damn autocorrect!” Marilyn laughed.

The waiter placed their food on the table and then walked away.

“Pinot noir,” Marilyn said before he got too far. He gave a small nod and walked away. “So, what is it that couldn’t wait?” she asked as Sarah took a bite of her salmon.

“My son just turned forty-one,” Sarah began. “I hoped by now he would have settled down but he’s still living it up like a wild twenty-year-old.”

Marilyn nodded as the waiter came back with a bottle of wine. He held the bottle in front of Marilyn so that she could see the year. She nodded and let him pour the wine into a glass before he looked at her.

“Should I leave the bottle, miss?” he asked and she smiled up at him.

“No, thank you. This will do.”

The waiter walked away and Marilyn took a sip of her wine.

“1964. Good year,” she said as she put the glass down. “So, your son.”

Sarah nodded.

“I wanted to make a proposal,” she started. “After all, you’ve told me that you’re a little concerned about Michelle living alone.”

Marilyn exhaled loudly.

“Don’t remind me…. She has sworn off men. Forever.”

“Well, not necessarily. Not if you and I have anything to say about it.”

“What are you talking about?” Marilyn asked.

“Michelle is a beautiful, self-made woman with the world as her oyster and no, her marriage didn’t work out as we’d all hoped but I tend to think that the only reason it didn’t work out was because Jean was intimidated by the woman Michelle is… the woman she is becoming.”

Marilyn nodded. “Tell me about it.”

“Well, the interesting thing is that I feel in my heart that Michelle’s strength is the same strength I see in David. Those two would be perfect for each other.”

Marilyn dabbed the sides of her mouth.

“I know that we’ve always wanted our families to be united but I highly doubt that would be possible considering those two are both alphas.”

Sarah reached for her glass and took another sip of her wine.

“Favre Securities, as you know from your recent investment, has done exceptionally well and this union would present a great opportunity for your charity. And I think it’s about time we made our dream a reality.”

Marilyn smiled and reached for her glass.

Years ago, the two women had talked of a business venture that would have their names and not their husband’s names. They weren’t so sure what they were going to do but design had always been something they both wanted to try. It was going to be a viable business of course. Having known so many people in the New York higher social class, they were bound to get a lot of business. Whether it was housewives looking to get a new look for their home, men looking to have a private space to call an office…. Or simply clients looking to give their Hampton property a whole new look. There was no shortage of clients and that was just going to be the beginning. But, life had gotten in the way of their plans. They’d had children to raise, marriages and homes to make. Even now that their kids were all grown, the fact remained that they would always be parents and every so often, they would need to step in and try to make everything right for their kids. This was one of those times.

“So, what? Meddle in our kids’ lives for business?” Marilyn asked and Sarah shrugged.

“Why not?” she asked. “They’re both strong personalities who don’t stand a chance at being happy with another person. This could be their shot.”

Marilyn shook her head.

“An arranged marriage? Really?” she forced out a laugh. “What is this? Mid-century America?’

 It was Sarah’s turn to shrug.

“Why not. I mean, think about it, Marilyn. Back in the day, how did we meet our husbands?” Sarah asked. “Weren’t we matched in a society ball?”

“It was the opera for me,” Marilyn said.

“Yeah and how did that work out for you?”

Marilyn smiled.

“It’s perfection. I mean, it was hard at first but I’ve had a great marriage.”

“As have I. Face it Marilyn, we had it good… and it’s time we passed it on to our children,” Sarah said as she looked at Marilyn, who was smiling back at her.

Sarah could tell that she’d gotten through to her. The look on her friend’s face said it all.

“Let’s do this!” Marilyn raised her glass and Sarah did the same.

“To our children’s happiness and to a new business,” Sarah said as Marilyn flipped a lock of hair back.

“Here, here.”