Final Arrangements by Nia Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

situation, and
because I don't want you to feel you have to hide it from me."
    "Shannon--"
    "--Don't interrupt. I have to get this out.
I'm telling you this to set you free, Stretch. I know you're not a
millionaire. I know you probably only make 10 bucks an hour
cleaning pools. I know why you didn't finish High School, and that
you probably don't really have your G.E.D. Of course, I have no
idea where you got the Mercedes. I only hope it isn't stolen from
one of your customers who's on vacation or something. The most
important thing I want to tell you is, that I do find you
attractive. And that your fantasy about us getting married by an
arrangement of our parents is, I think, a very sweet and romantic
one. Actually, I'm very taken by the idea of a completely platonic
arrangement, one where the weaknesses of the flesh don't cloud
one's ability to choose a partner with similar values. Although
it's old-fashioned, archaic even, you've shown me that there's a
lot of merit to the custom. I was realizing earlier that perhaps
even Mary and Joseph had such a marriage, in the best Judaic
tradition, as of that of Isaac and Rebecca. One completely selfless
and devoted to God, where it was arranged by loving
intermediaries."
    "You're warming to the idea," he said. "And
just think of the passion that will come when--"
    "--Don't interrupt. Because I'm not warming,
not like you think. I'm just saying that the fact that personal
choice isn't part of an arranged marriage could be a tremendous
asset. Especially in light of all the divorces which have come
about with the advent of personal choice in choosing a mate. People
who have to decide on choosing their own mates tend to let their
passions run and they ignore the most important stuff, which is
family and loyalty and commitment."
    "The problem with the dating scene," he said,
nodding in agreement, "is you wind up lighting the fire first and
then go shopping for the fireplace. By the time you have the
fireplace installed, the rest of your house has burned down. The
fire being, of course, the emotional and physical involvement which
occurs between two persons of the opposite sex."
    "Clever analogy, Stretch. Two people are
drawn together by physical attraction, but when the family problems
begin, and there's no commitment, pop goes the divorce. But we've
already gotten way off track."
    "Right. We were discussing my apparent
disconnect with reality."
    "Yes. And I'm sorry to be so abrupt about it.
So there. I've said it. I hope you won't hate me for telling you I
know your secret. And believe me, I don't think less of you. I
don't think I'm better than you, just--"
    "--different," he said, finishing her
sentence. "I'll follow you back."
    "That's it? You'll follow me back? That's all
you want to say? You don't want to say anything to what I just
said?"
    "No. I could say I don't think there's
anything wrong with me, but that's what all the crazy people say,
isn't it? If you're crazy, how do you know? So I won't say I'm not
crazy. I'll follow you back to your dad's house." And he did.
    The sight of him, behind her as they traveled
down Ventura Boulevard, cruising with the top down, blue Dodger cap
pulled down low, giving her a feeling she couldn't describe. Yes,
she could. It was one of more than casual interest. And a certain
shame she felt because part of her interest stemmed from the fact
the man was not only single and available, but perhaps not on the
same mental plane as she. Did such a thing have to matter as much
as it did? Perhaps it would be desirable. Would make it easy for
her to get along with, and control him. He didn't seem to have any
meanness in him.
    And it was possible he really was rich.
Stranger things had been known to happen in the City of Angels.
Even if he was living in a fantasy world, the car was some kind of
indicator. He could be rich and clean pools at the same time. Or
was his Mercedes simply a mirage, a vehicle with a heavy debt
service, something which would