7: Perfect Partners

For a long time, Donna stood there by the fireplace like a politician’s wife, smiling and receiving congratulations automatically.

Almost everyone would agree that they stood close enough to each other and paid enough attention to one another to show respect but it couldn’t be mistaken for love. But, others went on to speculate, their reputations preceded them and they were considered too sophisticated and modern day to show in front of strangers how much they cared for one another.

Craig and Shirley watched them with interest; they managed to receive congratulations from people together while portraying a mutual distance. Shirley noticed the way they exchanged a private look after talking to Mrs. Lawrence- mother to the insatiable Barbara. It excluded everyone else but wasn’t romantic. There was a word for it. Affection?

Shirley shook her head and muttered, “They’re perfect.”

Donna showed yet another group of ladies the engagement ring as Greg talked to a guy who was giving him the thumbs up for snagging a ‘hot one’.

Shirley appeared and Donna heaved a sigh of relief, taking the proffered champagne with gratitude.

“The ring is beautiful,” Shirley commented, cocking her head to one side.

Donna took in her gamine friend’s critical demeanour and smiled. “Stop scrutinising me.”

“You don’t look ok. Here comes Mrs. Witt again,” Shirley shuddered. “Shoo. I’ll keep her from you. Take a breather.”

“Thanks.”

Donna slipped away. Then to Shirley’s relief Greg saved her from Witt by asking her to dance.

“I should get to know my fiancé’s best friend a little better.”

She inclined her head in agreement.

Within one song he found out she was chief accountant for DQ, she and Donna had known each other for about five years since their mothers had introduced them. She was an only daughter in a family with six kids and so Donna was the sister she never had and she felt she was sort of a replacement for Diana sometimes when she needed a girl to talk to. He also found out she was twenty-eight and un-married but dating newly found boyfriend Justin.

She laughed at the expression on his face.

“Which part of that surprised you?”

“I’m not sure. I saw you get teary-eyed when Donna told you how I proposed,” he grinned. “Only the married ones allow themselves sentimentality.”

“Ha ha. I’m an exception- most definitely Quinton’s alter ego. But I am glad you’re marrying her.”

The music changed and Greg took it as a chance to take Shirley to a sofa, now to find out more about the matured Donna.

“And why,” he asked, handing her a glass of champagne which he had gleaned from a passing waiter, “are you pleased that I’m going to marry Donna? Didn’t you like Luke?” he teased.

“Maybe I said it the wrong way,” Shirley told him solemnly. “You two are well-suited for each other- it’s a fact. But I meant now that you’re getting married, she’ll see that you’re not still single and alone because of Diana.”

A shadow crossed his face at the mention of her name.

“Or are you?”

Hearing that, Greg pinned Shirley’s uncertain blue eyes with steel grey ones.

“Definitely not,” he said firmly. “But tell me Donna’s theory on my bachelorhood.”

“Well, she thinks you’re still single to avoid the hassles of a woman falling in love with you. She thinks you can’t return the love and you prefer the no-strings-attached um, company of high class- er, women because they are physically satisfying but wouldn’t even be an option for a social partner.”

He found it amusing, the way she continually tripped over the delicate terms that defined the type of women he kept on call but something else had caught his attention.

“I can’t return the love?” he echoed.

“Because you loved Diana.”

His expression grew thunderous for a split second but they both knew he knew better than to raise his voice at the moment.

“I wasn’t in love with Diana. Diana wasn’t in love with me- I told Donna that.”

“You did?” Shirley was genuinely surprised.

“In no uncertain terms,” came the grim reply.

“Oh.” Now she was confused. “So why is she marrying you?”

Greg’s expression lightened. “Gee, thanks. My fiancé’s best friend thinks I’m Quasimodo.”

“I’m sorry, I seem to be sticking my foot in it tonight. I mean, I know yours isn’t a union of love,” she feigned remorse, “and I know she wanted to get married but what is so special about you?”

“You mean apart from my exceedingly good looks and enormous bank account?” he shrugged. “I’m suitable in the social sense, I understand the no-love thing, we’re friends- our families go way back. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t know.”

Or maybe she still thought she was saving him, thought Shirley. “Do you care for her at all?”

Greg hesitated. “I’ll never intentionally hurt her, if that’s what you mean.”

It was good enough for Shirley.

Greg changed the subject. “Just so you know, from the day after we get married, she’ll be able to put a DQ station in any public building I have a hand in.”

“Oh, great! So when am I going to be a godmother?”

“As soon as everything’s legit.”

That stunned her.

Greg laughed at her stunned expression. “Got you there, didn’t I? Let me explain. Our parents- all four of them- want at least one grandchild. I stand to lose millions if it doesn’t happen before my father dies.”

Talk about legal ties. “Doesn’t marrying her suffice?”

He shook his head. “The clause stipulates that I must have a wife and child.”

“And Donna knows this?”

“She does. She has known from almost day one.”

“And you know why she wants kids?”

“To love and cherish like she never will any man?” he chanced.

“That’s part of it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Shirley’s face told him otherwise. At that moment Craig appeared, smiling apologetically at her. He leaned over to speak in Greg’s ear.

“I know you’re not in love, so it won’t break your heart but I thought you might like to know your lovely fiancé is crying.”

Greg frowned.

Donna had slipped onto the dark balcony for fresh air. The déjà vu was over but the sorrow of her sister’s absence was still there.

She could remember Diana’s engagement night as if it were yesterday. She had been so happy for Diana because she truly believed that that was what Di had wanted.

After that night, Donna remembered the two of them were always together at lunches and social outings. The day she saw Greg kiss Diana she’d thought, ‘that must be love’. How wrong she’d been! She now thought sadly.

Diana had disappeared and left a letter behind for her little sister to find. It had devastated her. Donna’s dreams and expectations of life and love had been changed- they had been shattered, in fact. She had learnt at that tender age that nothing was really as it seemed and that even the purest acts of love could be contrived... and manipulated to fool the unsuspecting.

And now here she was, engaged to Greg for even more selfish reasons than even he understood. She sighed. That was one side of it.

It did occur to her that if Diana was actually at Donna’s engagement, Donna probably wouldn’t be getting engaged to Greg. She probably would have found her Prince Charming on a white horse and had a fairytale romance complete with rainbows and unicorns. She would have been allowed to live the fantasy that love requires and she definitely would have been happier.

Then her father appeared by her side. “Are you okay pumpkin?”

She turned her head and smiled at Bob Quinton, distinguished in his tuxedo. “I’m fine Daddy.”

“Yes, you look it,” he said drily, “on the verge of tears.”

She looked away.

“You’re thinking of your sister aren’t you?”

She nodded mutely and felt her father put a hand on each shoulder.

“I hope you’re not marrying Greg to substitute Diana,” he said.

She bit her lip and said nothing. With a sigh he said, “That was even more of a planned marriage than this one is.”

Now she turned around to face him. “What do you mean, Daddy?”

“You were always the one who used to hang out with Greg and his friends- or tag along,” he amended with a smile, “when they played ball, you were there- they joked around with you as Little D. Hell, do you know you were the one who got Diana and Greg to talk in the first place?” Pause. “You and Greg coming together is less manufactured because you actually have common goals and interests. I don’t think he had as many of those with Di.”

Donna knew all he was saying was true but she didn’t understand what all that had to do with Greg’s first engagement. Bob could see that from the look on her face and said, “They never loved each other, Donna. They were just the ultimate dynasts.”

“Greg told me,” she said quietly.

Bob relaxed and nodded.

Then Donna spoke. “That doesn’t keep me from missing her. She should be here.” There was so much she wasn’t saying but now wouldn’t be the time to discuss that with her father. Instead she decided to allay his fears- convince him that she was not doing this for Greg’s broken heart. “I will marry Greg because we get along and seem to want the same thing... for different reasons, but that doesn’t matter.” She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. “It won’t keep me from missing my sister, who’s-” she bit her lip again. No amount of consolation from Bob could brook the tears.

So he just held her, concerned that perhaps nobody had realised just how affected Donna had been by her sister’s death. Ten years was a long time to let a painful issue like this go ignored. Of course they had all gone for counselling and Donna had lived a fairly normal life after her sister disappeared, so it made sense that her behaviour was coming as a surprise to everyone.

That was how Greg found them. Donna had her face buried in Bob’s chest, Bob looked positively miserable because so was his remaining daughter. Greg gave him a grim smile.

“Mind if I flex my pre-marital muscle, sir?”

“Be my guest. One crying Quinton is better than two.”

Bob let his daughter loose and she turned her back on both of the men. Bob stepped back and patted Greg on the shoulder as he made to go back to the party. He stopped, once, to turn around and watch them.

Greg was standing close to Donna, his hands on her arms. Bob could hear him say, “Don’t close me out Little D.”

Donna turned around and cried some more.

Bob nodded and managed to convince himself that theirs would be a liveable marriage.

But he didn’t know the arrangements the two were making together. If he had, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so relieved. Nevertheless, he went inside to linger by the door in order to afford his daughter and her new fiancé some privacy. Who knew, maybe Donna’s grief would draw them closer together.

Greg was whispering into Donna’s hair.

“It’s Diana again, isn’t it?” he asked, receiving a nod in return.

Then he had started, “This is supposed to be your day, D. Don’t cry. It makes me feel bad that all these people we invited are inside having fun, happily and you’re out here like this.” When she wouldn’t stop, he sighed. “Come on, baby, please don’t cry.”

That stopped her.

She sniffed a few time and looked up. “Was that instinctive or are you really showing interest in my emotions?”

He grinned. “Are you going to ask me that on our wedding day as well, or just every other time I say something nice to you?”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?”

“For this. For getting your shirt wet again- for ruining the party mood,” she finished gloomily.

He was silent for a moment. “Why do you cry so much about Diana? I know you miss her and all, but it’s been ten years.”

There was another long silence and Greg tried again, “Donna-?”

“It’s partly because of you.”

“Me?”

“It’s all coming back. Trust me, I don’t cry like this every time I hear the name Diana.” She wiped at her eyes again and turned to face him.

“And the other part?” he asked.

“It’s not that important.”

He looked at her closely. “I get the distinct feeling that you’re lying.”

A dimple appeared in her left cheek. “And you would be right to think so. Just don’t want to talk about it, now.”

“Ok.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Pause. “Donna, you’re going to have to get used to talking to me. You’ll see that when we are married, no matter what is really going on- to the world we have to look like a united front.”

She nodded.

“Now give us a kiss.”

“That,” she said, “was surely instinctive.”

He smiled. “Nope. All part of the fantasy.” Without permission or warning, his head came down and their lips met.

“You’re getting too used to this,” Donna murmured, her hands snaking into his jacket.

“It’s good for our marriage,” he replied laughing before kissing her soundly.

“Excuse me sir.”

Greg heard the familiar sounding voice but didn’t want to end the kiss. Donna’s lips were so soft and warm. So was her body, pressed against his, her hands roaming over his chest. He convinced himself that it was because he hadn’t been getting any that the kiss felt so good.

Greg groaned and released Donna.

“Oh look, it’s the Junior,” Donna said.

“What do you want?”

“I’m so sorry to disturb, but I wanted to apologise to the both of you for my indiscretion the other night. I shouldn’t have mentioned your other lady friends- and I’m very sorry I did in front of your future wife.”

“Thank you.”

“And I hope you two have a prosperous, happy future in front of you.”

“Thank you,” Greg said again.

The Junior looked like he had more to say but he closed his mouth, gave a slight bow and left them alone.

“If he hadn’t come to say sorry, I’d have fired him for interrupting my fantasy.” He shook his head, bemused. “Donna, when did you show up? I was kissing this siren in a red dress- similar to this one...”

They both laughed.

“Let’s go join the party,” Donna suggested, wiping away any possible traces of tears.

Greg assured her she looked decent. “Are you ok?”

“Just peachy.”

“You’re as tasty as one too.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“Maybe. You’re all I have right now.”

“Be grateful, then. You could’ve done worse, my friend.”

They entered the well-lit games room, receiving quite a few knowing looks. Donna would have rolled her eyes, but instead she smiled and said through her teeth. “I must look like a wreck and all they think of is stolen kisses and rendezvous in the bushes!”

Greg laughed out loud. “You look gorgeous.”

They found Craig first. He was entertaining a group of young women but once he saw them, he excused himself and came over to take Donna’s hand. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Craig.”

“My brother’s taking care of you?”

“So far,” she replied. With interest, she watched Shirley saunter over. With a wink, her best friend led Greg away.

“I’ve heard of wife swapping,” Craig muttered, “but this is too much.”

Donna took his arm and pulled him over to a couch, far away from his lady friends.

“This is your time to get to know me... you know, snoop for the opposition.”

“Don’t I know it? What,” Craig began, once they were comfortably settled, “can my man Greg do to keep you from crying?”

“Give me a baby,” she said quickly.

Almost too quickly.

But Craig smiled. “Well at least in as much as that, your agenda is the same as his. But why are you doing it?”

“I have everything else.”

“Yes,” his eyes travelled to where her dress had fallen open at the slit, revealing a smooth, toned leg. “I can see that.”

Donna smiled at his deliberately amusing compliment. “I don’t want to have a baby when I am forty and my career is settling.”

Craig understood that, so he merely nodded. There was a silence and then suddenly Craig asked, “Why did you say yes to Greg?”

“The first time or tonight?”

He hesitated. “You made him ask twice?! Both.”

Donna smiled again and then she told him.