CHAPTER SIX

Soon enough I spent almost all day everyday with Royce King II. My mother didn’t mind—in fact, I think she encouraged it. And soon enough, I didn’t mind either. He was the epitome of a perfect gentlemen—he never placed one foot out of line. He always smiled when spoken to and listened wholeheartedly. He never needed to be reprimanded and I didn’t know what to think about that. There was nothing wrong with him. He could have quite possibly been too perfect. Not that I minded—sort of. He loved everyone and everyone loved him. If he had one flaw it would probably be that he was too perfect.

It all started when we were sitting at the front of my house in the dry heat. Despite the economy, he was still dressed to impress. It was like he was unaffected my everything that was happening in Rochester. His fedora was slightly tilted to the left and his suit looked like it was freshly pressed. The way he walked, talked, and smiled looked as if he had nothing to worry about.

His hand was laced through mine, soft and warm, and he was talking about the bank and what he wanted to happen after this Depression was over. He believed that it would end soon enough, and I think, despite the smile he gave me, he was actually worried. Royce King, the Royce King II, was worried. Because if the Depression didn’t let up any time soon, he’d be out of money. No more would he be the man with endless fedoras and fresh suits. But at least he was optimistic about the situation.

I was listening and daydreaming as he spoke, only half there. I nodded along and I didn’t think he knew I wasn’t listening—or he didn’t care. I managed to catch random pieces of what he was telling me: how much he made and how much he was making now, to what he wanted for the future—the future of the bank.

And as soon as I caught him saying it, I turned to look right at him.

“You know, my friend Vera is married,” I tried to say as nonchalantly as possible. He immediately stopped talking and I didn’t know if this was what I wanted. He stared at me and his fingers were still wrapped around mine. His hands were warm. It was hot outside.

He didn’t say anything and I wondered if I should still continue. I did. “And she... has a kid, you know.” Of course he didn’t know. Too late for that. I was running out of things to say. But when did I know what I was going to say? “It’s just... I don’t know. Did you know she married a carpenter? He’s three years older than her. They have a son named Henry and he’s as cute as a bug’s ear. He has dimples. He looks like him—his father, who’s a carpenter, I mean... you know? And their money situation... they’re doing swell, I mean, they’re not beat.” Suddenly, I wished I had a fedora to hide my eyes behind them.

“He loves her, a lot. He’s practically dizzy with a dame. She married him at seventeen and... I’m almost eighteen. I wanted to wait, you know, because I’m really pretty and didn’t want a husband to tie me down. But now... because of... of this, I might die alone. And my mother, she loves you, and she wants you and I to... you know. It’s been two months and I don’t know if you’re ready or I’m ready and it’s all very, very confusing, Royce.”

I took a deep breath and continued to hold onto my hand. I wasn’t looking at him now and I didn’t know if I wanted too. Cautiously, I turned my head to him and noticed that he was looking away from me, deep in thought.

Great, I wrecked whatever we could have had. He was probably thinking of the best way to break it off with me. He must think I was crazy. I am crazy.

Then, he slowly turned his head to look at me, and right when he opened his mouth I blurted out, “You’re a good listener, you know that?” I told him, trying to laugh it off along the way, but I ended up just sounding like a wreck. I tried to make it come off as if I were joking. I didn’t even believe myself. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to either.

“Rosalie, how do you feel about us?” His voice was soft and gentle and kind and everything I could have ever hoped for in a husband. I imagined him talking like that, cooing soft words to our child—our child. I imagined him laughing at every soft sound the baby made. There was something about his voice. It was soft, but strong—passionate. He believed everything he said and it took himself to another place, and I’d be lucky if he took me along.

“I just... I don’t know and I want—never mind.” I looked at my knees an had never felt so nervous. I was Rosalie Hale, the blond girl with confidence that reverberated through me. I was the girl that could say what she wanted and never feel sorry, embarrassed, or guilty. But here I was with the one man that made me think what I said and watched what I did. He was my weakness and he didn’t know it yet. And a part of me wanted him to know, but I wasn’t sure if he even did or even cared.

Royce kept his blue eyes on me—I could feel it. “Rosalie, what is it?” He asked, and his voice was as gentle as ever. I was almost getting frustrated at how kind he was.

“Nothing, it’s stupid.”

“No, it isn’t,” he told me, and I believed him.

I let out a breath and looked right into his eyes. They reminded me of the ocean. I wanted to go swimming. I wonder if he wanted to too. I should ask him. I probably wouldn’t.

“Do you... do you ever think we could have something more? Maybe, start a family and find a nice house to live?” He didn’t answer so I began to talk faster, my nerves taking over me, “I mean—of course not now, but when this—the Depression... it’s all over. Do you—but you don’t have to because I don’t control you... but maybe one day? You know, have what Vera has?”

I was looking down the entire time that when I finally lifted my head to see him, he was looking away to the distance. I wasn’t even sure if he had heard me. I sighed. “See, it is stupid—you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s not that.” He turned to me and there was a smile on his face and a wistful look in his eyes. He wasn’t looking at me, he was looking through me. And I let him. He touched his hands with mine, then began to trail it up my arms, to my shoulder, up my neck, and to the side of my face. His hands were soft and warm. I wanted him to tell me everything into my ear. Tell me who he was and where he came from. Tell me how much I meant to him. I would listen. His touch reminded me that it wasn’t over, my life was not over. He smelled of roses. It was probably from the roses he sent me earlier today. He smelled of everything I dreamed of.

He leaned close to me and brushed his fingertips across my cheeks. He closed his eyes for a second and we both stood there. I didn’t mind. I knew he didn’t either. When he opened his eyes I saw him for who he truly was. And then, his voice soft, he told me, “I’ll give you whatever you want, darling. And I actually wanted to tell you something today... before you started to talk about... well, all you talked about.”

I knew then that the conversation would turn deeper. Every time we were together we were talking. To my mother, it was going as she planned. If I was talking deeply about a family then maybe he would marry me and my mother wouldn’t have anything to worry about. It was what she wanted, and I guess I wanted it a bit too.

“Rose”—I loved the way my nickname rolled off his tongue—“I love you, and you know that. And you’re right, it’s been a long two months. Maybe too long. I know for your mother it is. People would think I’m marrying her!” He sounded so alive. He was practically everything I wished I could be.

Royce then stood up from the porch, but didn’t walk away. I stayed sitting and he turned to look at me. I was in a white dress. It was simple, and it looked like I was going to a small wedding. Too bad I wanted a big one.

“I’m not going to try to take too long with this because I know you’re mother is in the house, waiting by the door. I don’t want to put her through much suspense,” he said,chuckling at himself. His fair hair went over his eyes and I wanted to brush it back. I stayed sitting.

Then, it happened practically in slow motion. He walked up to me, so close. I had to tilt my head to see his face. He was blocking the sun, but that didn’t matter, because he shined brighter then it anyways. He was smiling. I wanted to be with him forever. The colour in his eyes went for miles. I got lost in them.

He let out a shaky breath and kneeled in front of me, taking a hold of my hands and kissing them softly. It took me a moment to register what was happening. My hands started to shake and kissing them only made it worse. The wind blew softly against his hair and I didn’t want this moment to ever end. This was everything I dreamed about. And Royce seemed to be everything I’d dreamed of. He was the fairytale prince, come to make me a princess.

“Rosalie Lillian Hale,” he whispered, my name delicate against his lips, “will you do me, Royce King the Second, the honour, of being my wife?” And after he said that he pulled a ring from his pocket, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was bigger, shinier, and prettier than Vera’s, and I couldn’t wait to show it off.

I took a deep breath and felt like I was going to cry. Words couldn’t form in my mouth so I ended up nodding my head. He took my hand and gently slid the ring through my finger before grabbing my hands and pressing his lips against them.

“You’re the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, Rose,” he murmured into my hand.

I let out a shaky breath, but before I could say what I felt, the front door behind me practically flew open, and my mother came storming through, my father’s hand laced through hers.

“Oh Rosalie, congratulations! I knew that today was the day! Oh, you’re going to have such a lavish wedding, anything you want! Oh Rosalie!” My mother was almost crying as she hugged me.

When I looked to Royce and my father, I saw that they were shaking hands. My father was even smiling. I knew he was happy, and I was glad I could make them happy. My father wouldn’t have to watch his money dwindle anymore. My parents were social climbers, yes, but I knew they needed this and I knew I had to give it to them.

“Nathaniel! Thomas! Your sister’s getting married!”

And there we were, my family and Royce—though Royce was going to be family soon anyways—on my front steps with dusk rolling around the corner. My mother was staring at the jewelery on my finger, fawning over it and asking my father why her’s wasn’t as nice. When Nate and Tom finally came outside I knew that this was right And I knew I could spend forever with Royce and become Rosalie King.

Besides my family, the first person I told the engagement to was Vera. After Royce had left and my mother was done hugging me, rushed to Vera’s house during the middle of the night. Her house wasn’t far from mine, so I didn’t have much to worry about either.

She hugged me and her husband congratulated me, holding little Henry as he did so. Now when I looked at Vera and all she had, I didn’t feel jealous anymore, I felt kind of sorry for her. Soon, my little fair haired children would be running around the Kings’ estate. Maybe a boy and girl, tumbling through the grass as the wind gently knocked them off their feet. Vera wouldn’t be having what I was having because he husband couldn’t provide all that like Royce would be able to. I know if pitied her, actually.

Soon, Royce and I would be married with our children and I would have what Vera was having and even more. Every think I could have possibly dreamed of was coming true, and I loved every second of it.

“When are you getting married?” Vera exclaimed.

“I don’t know yet, he proposed to me a couple of hours ago and it was the sweetest thing! You should have been there Vera!” I told her and hugged her again.

I told Vera what exactly happened, from early in the morning to when he gave me the roses and even smelled like them, to when I had come to her house. She stared at me curiously and I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself for getting the chance to marry a rich and powerful man like Royce. I knew she was jealous of everything I was going to have that she couldn’t. When I finished my story, I tossed my blond hair across my shoulder and smiled so brightly at her.

Vera squealed and took Henry from her husband and she started to tell him of their wedding. Their wedding had been small and private, and she couldn’t help but gush at every detail. Her’s had barely any flowers and I decided mine would have rows and rows of flowers and many guests. There would be a before and after party, dancing, and pretty dresses.

Henry then started to coo and I asked if I could hold him. Vera let me and I held him in my arms. He was the sweetest thing with the cutest dimples and the brightest eyes. I couldn’t wait to have it all. And all I was doing now was counting the days.

“Well, when you know when the wedding is, be sure to tell me, okay?” Vera asked.

I told her I would and saw that it was getting late. I told her I was going to head back home and she said goodbye to me, and her husband kissed my cheek. I smiled at them and gave Henry back to them, longing to when I would have a child of my own.

Instead of deciding to go back home right away, I decided I would see Royce first and try and set a date, despite only being engaged for a couple of hours.

I had never been to his house before, but Royce had told me once where it was. It wasn’t completely dark yet, and the street lamps were on so I could see. I made my way through the empty streets of Rochester to Royce’s house. The lights were on and I knew he wasn’t alone inside. A part of me couldn’t wait to show his friends the beautiful girl he was soon to marry.

I knocked on his door, but Royce wasn’t the one who answered. It took me by surprised, but then I just figured it was one of his friends. He leered at me and I didn’t bother to hide my disgust. I welcomed myself into the house, not caring that it might not even be the right one.

It wasn’t. I saw Royce’s back and I walked up to him, hugging him from behind and smiling sweetly. And that was when I noticed it.

I couldn’t smell it from the door, or as I walked into the room, but it was probably because I wasn’t even paying attention to the smell.

“Rosalie, there you are,” Royce said to me, his head turned. I had let go of him and was now standing behind him, staring. He was smiling at me and I almost forgot why I was angry.

“Gentlemen,” Royce continued, ignoring the look I was giving him, “this is my bride to be.” He took my hand and showed them the ring, and all the men stared wide-eyed at it. I smiled proudly, but then I noticed the smell on their breaths. I turned back to Royce and grabbed his hand, bringing him close to me.

“Royce, what are you doing?”

He smiled lazily at me. “I’m just showing my friends what a beautiful bride I have,” he said, his voice too sweet.

I rolled my eyes at him. “No, I mean, what is all this liquor doing in your house?”

Surely, Royce couldn’t have not known. Everyone knew. Liquor had been banned from Rochester since 1919. Of course he knew about the prohibition, right?

“Darling, do you know how easy it is to make money off liquor—especially when a man’s bank is bankrupt?”

I wanted to understand, but I couldn’t because what Royce was doing was illegal. “So you nicked liquor?”

“No.”

“Then where’d you get it?”

“My friend Owen over there”—he nudged to his left, but I didn’t even bother to look—“he’s got connections, and offered to help me get my money after what happened to the bank.” Royce was grinning, as if he was proud of what he was doing.

No longer was he the perfect gentlemen. Granted, his voice was still soft and his touch was still gentle, but there was another side to him, I knew.

I just shook my head at him and said to him, “You’re going to get nailed.”

Royce laughed a little. “No, Rose I’m not. You’re the only one out of my little circle who knows, and as my fiancee, I’m trusting you with this secret. I know you wouldn’t call a copper on your husband-to-be, would you?” He practically breathed every word he said. His breath reeked and I turned my head away. I knew he had drank some of the liquor.

His fingers caught my chin, slightly rough, and I looked up at him. “You wouldn’t, would you darling?” He leaned in close and I knew that Royce wasn’t completely there.

And for the first time his soft eyes turned dark. I tried to shake my head, but realized I couldn’t. So instead, I opted for words. “Of course not, I’m just—it’s just… it’s illegal.” I whispered the last word as if it were a curse.

Royce began to laugh. “Kitten, that’s what makes it more fun. Do you want any?”

“No,” I told him immediately, disgust evident on my face.

He smiled, but it wasn’t as sweet as I remembered. “Good. A pretty doll like you shouldn’t ruin yourself with it.”

Then he captured my lips and a kiss had never tasted so bitter.