Chapter 127

“She’s a likeable girl, Alex,” dad replied. “Good-hearted and well-meaning like few people are. To be honest, it was kind of a curse for her to be born wealthy, because she can’t just be a normal girl. It’s gotten in the way of her happiness. Yes, she’s dumber than a bag of hammers, but Freja doesn’t care. I don’t think Freja really cares about the money, either.”

“So you think they’re a good match.”

He considered. “I think they’ll beat the odds, yes. And I’m happy for them. They’re luckier in that sense that you’ll be.”

I tilted my head as I looked at him.

“Something I realized a long time ago, when I fell in love with your mother,” he explained. “And the same will apply to you. If you ever take any piece of advice I ever give you concerning marriage, Alex, it’s this- marry someone who is your intellectual equal.”

“Like you and mom.”

He nodded. “Your mother is every bit my equal, no question, she’s just not as overtly bombastic. I may have hoped to marry her, but she decided to marry me. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Except possibly you, of course.”

“That’s me, everyone’s favourite afterthought.” I laughed.

***

I’ll give her credit, Jeanie was a big hit with the Kjaer clan. She was genial and courteous, even if it was obvious that she didn’t have a lot going on upstairs. She was constantly getting names wrong or mixed up, but no one was offended and the laughter wasn’t derisive. It was good to see her getting along with people who weren’t after her for sex or money.

Her parents, who I was now meeting for the first time as well, were stand-offish initially. The Kjaers seemed to not notice the derisive tone Jeanie’s parents were taking with them, almost as if their disdain for peasants could be barely be contained.

But then mom took them aside. They weren’t gone more than ten minutes, and when they returned, their attitudes had changed entirely. They were every bit as genial and welcoming and pleasant as their daughter, almost feverishly so.

“Okay, how the Hell did you manage that?” Alexa asked as we stood nearby with my mom and dad, watching the new dynamic.

“Simple,” mom said somewhat sternly. “I spoke in the language they understand, money. I let them know that you and I were Blackwells, a family that could buy theirs about ten times over, and that if they didn’t start treating Freja’s family with respect, we would buy them. And I’d adopt their daughter and make sure she couldn’t even remember their names two weeks from now.”

Alexa giggled. “Nice bluff, seeing as how you and I aren’t heirs to the Gordon or Blackwell fortunes.”

“No, but we could be if we wanted to be,” mom pointed out. “Don’t forget, darling, at the end of the day, you and I are the crowning achievements of both those families. What we say would be law, if we chose to assert ourselves, just like mom could have.”

“Never really considered it, because I’ve never really dealt with them.” Alexa admitted. “I guess you guys are getting to know my Kjaer family and I’ve got to learn about the Blackwells and Gordons. And the De Bournes, of course.”

“Of course.” dad said, nodding.

“I don’t need to become a business magnate or anything now, do I?” Alexa asked, making a wry face. “I mean, I like drinking whiskey and I like using software, but I don’t want to focus on them.”

“No, it won’t come to that,” mom said dismissively. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

We’d actually nabbed some facilities at the university for this big get-together, courtesy of mom and dad, so that Jeanie’s parents didn’t feel put-upon for having to rent a hall. The university had even agreed to let the reception be held on the grounds, while the wedding would be held in the nearby botanical gardens. Dad arranged all of this, as long as everyone promised no Aqua would be played at any point during the reception. You take victories where you can get them, I guess.

Catered food arrived, much to my surprise, but when it turned out that Jeanie’s parents had ordered it on the fly and I remembered mom’s threat, it all made sense to me. Dad and I corralled the Kjaer men into helping us set up tables and chairs for everyone, which they did readily. I kept working steadily while dad had to stop on a regular basis to hear stories about Danish men of impressive size and strength. Pretty sure I got the better end of the deal.

Mom, dad, Alexa and I mostly sat and watched while Jeanie’s family and Freja’s began getting to know one another and make arrangements. The Kjaers promised they weren’t moving here en masse, while Jeanie promised to continue her education, in whatever field would have her. Mom and dad, as the power brokers for this whole thing, simply made sure that everything kept on track. A Lutheran minister was found to do the ceremony through the university’s faculty of religious studies.

“I can’t decide if this is gonna be a big thing or a small thing.” I mused as I watched the proceedings. “Yeah, there’s thirty weird Danish people here, but only Jeanie and her parents on the other side.”

“Jeanie’s whole family will be there,” mom said, nodding. “And I’ve invited the Blackwells and Gordons, at least the ones nearby. It’s a great way for them to meet Alexa, but more to the point, it’ll really make this a dream-come-true wedding for Jeanie.”

“You really have a soft spot for her, don’t you?” Alexa said, putting her hand on mom’s forearm and giving it a squeeze. Her eyes were shining.

“It’s hard not to,” mom replied. “She’s a sweet girl, genuinely nice and well-meaning. She spent most of her life terrified that she’d be alone, emotionally if not physically, that people would only ever want her for money or sex. Making sure this happens for her is the least you can do for someone who’s so nice.”

“As long as you don’t have to talk to her,” Alexa giggled, looking at my dad. “What was it you said once about conversing with her?”

Dad shrugged. “Talking to Jeanie is like masturbating with a cheese grater- slightly amusing, but mostly just painful.”

“The things that come out of your mouth, mister…” mom sighed, shaking her head.

“Freja’s rather smart, so this should be interesting,” Alexa added. “But you can’t choose where the heart leads you.”

“No argument there.” mom muttered.

“I’m glad Jeanie said she’ll continue her education,” I said, diverting the conversation. “But do we even have graduate programs to become a paperweight or a speedbump?”

Their laughter was drowned out by the general merriment of the festivities around us.

***

Jeanie’s parents had gone home for the night, leaving their daughter in our care. We ended up at the hotel room of Freja’s parents, which just happened to be in the same one their daughter was staying at. Freja told them quite bluntly she had no intention of being quiet at night just because her parents were nearby, to which her dad replied that some things never changed.

People seemed to have divided up into little groups to talk at this point- dad, mom and Freja were sitting with her parents, mostly getting to know one another. Mom’s eyes were often glistening with tears as she listened to them talk about Miranda, my grandmother, and how much she and Alexa meant to them.

Alexa had been stolen by the young children, who had apparently missed her horribly. Alexa, inhumanly flexible creature that she is, had her feet hooked behind and over her shoulders, and was walking around the room on her hands, making growling noises as she chased them. The kids were squealing in delight and they stampeded around, ignored by everyone else. That left me sitting in a corner with Jeanie, occupying two comfy chairs.

“D’you really think it’s gonna be okay?” she asked in a quiet voice as she watched. “I mean… I’m getting married. I’m scared, Alex.”

“I would be worried if you weren’t,” I said easily, looking at her. “It’s only natural to be scared, Jeanie. But I’ll be honest, you got really lucky. I don’t mean that you’re lucky because you’re marrying up, what I mean is that you’re lucky someone like Freja literally just dropped into your life. And she’s lucky too.”

“I guess,” she murmured, looking at everyone. “I could’ve fallen in love with Alexa, because, well, who wouldn’t, right? And Freja wrestled with her feelings over Alexa for years, knowing that they couldn’t ever truly be together. She may’ve wanted it, but she knew she wasn’t the right person for Alexa.”

“They’re best friends, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean they’re in love,” I agreed. “I’ll tell you what my mom and dad said about you and Freja, and I’ll be honest- true love comes around probably only once, if you’re lucky. Maybe Freja’s smarter than you, Jeanie, but she also doesn’t care. You’ve got a whole world of love to offer her, so don’t squander it. I’m pretty sure Alexa will tell her them same thing.”