Twisted Agendas Read Free Page A

arcing through the
air.
    “Postponement’s not possible,” she said finally. “Daddy’s already paid for the reception. The honeymoon package is non-refundable.”
    His head dipped and he glanced at the ground just like he always did when cornered in an argument. But then he remembered he could allow this no longer. Pushing away his anxiety he met her stony
eyes. “I know this is a shock but these things can be changed.”
    “Have you listened to a word I said? Postponement is not… ”
    “There’s no reason we can’t change the date.”
    “I said, postponing our wedding is not… ”
    “Susan we can change the date.”
    “Why the hell are you talking like a parrot? You’re destroying my life.” She stopped walking and her mouth fell agape. “Oh my God, this isn’t about a
postponement.”
    “Both of us rushed into this based on our fathers thinking it’s a great thing for everyone concerned. They’re talking about financial stuff. Not about love and living together
for a lifetime. What’s the problem in stepping back to make sure this is right for us?”
    “Are you jilting me?”
    Her accusation had the effect of a slap on the cheek. Their fathers had contracted business together and eight months ago had arranged a first date between Danny and Susan. The affair was a
black tie dinner dance organised by Susan’s mother to raise funds for a missionary priest in Lima. That night, Danny found Susan easy to talk to and surprisingly attentive, extinguishing the
tiniest lulls in their conversation with questions about his family, his interests, his ambitions. While it was true his father pushed him hard to date her, alluding to her family’s two huge
dairy farms and Susan’s status as the sole heiress, it was Danny who’d ultimately formed a relationship with her.
    Like a magpie, Danny had always been drawn to shiny things, and Susan’s hair was very shiny. In the fourth week of their courtship, during what he’d expected to be yet another
pleasurable session spent necking and running his fingers through her exquisite mane, she encouraged him to go the whole way. That night, sexual attraction galloped to infatuation. He was still
infatuated the following morning and would count the hours remaining until they met up again. Danny agreed with his father without reservation when he remarked Susan would be an ‘ideal
catch’ after cornering him for yet another pep talk before he left to go and see her. During more fantastic sex in Dublin two weeks later, Danny bellowed, ‘I love you’ amid the
ecstasy, Susan admitted she felt the same way, and asked what he felt they should do about it.
    His father was ecstatic when Danny informed him he was engaged and immediately set aside a twenty-acre tract of his land for them to obtain a building permit for a house. Almost immediately,
Danny began to express the opinion he’d been too hasty but Mr. Connolly countered any reservations with articulate logic as to the soundness of the match. A few months later, when Danny
admitted to him that Susan and he were having sex, his father informed him there was now no option but marriage to save the girl’s integrity.
    Danny gripped Susan’s shoulders. “Look at me.”
    She refused.
    “Look at me.”
    Her eyes cut to an imaginary hole in the middle of his forehead.
    “You’re not being dumped. This is something I really need.”
    “How can I believe you?”
    He began stroking the back of her head and said nothing.
    She sighed, took out a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “I’ll resign from my job and come with you. We’ll get a flat.”
    He was conscious now of the strands of her hair rolling and shifting under his fingers like silk. “I have to go alone.”
    She emitted a strangled gasp, pulled away violently from him and began to weep. Two women turned back to stare after they passed by. Danny felt a familiar urge to apologise and placate her. He
resisted and laid his hand on her shoulder.
    “Get away