Swans are Overrated

Chapter One

California was... different. The air itself seemed to be more open, and it wasn't just that the skies were bluer or the buildings were built in a looser framework. People walked slower, talked in warm milky tones, and were on the whole very dissimilar from the crisply ironed feel of people in New York. I liked it.

I felt the light breeze riffle through my plain brown hair and for once, it didn't bother me that I don't have the fair locks or classically beautiful face that my older sister Jane has. It's not that I'm ugly or anything, people (prior to meeting my family, that is) have said that I'm very pretty. I have chestnut brown hair that falls halfway down my back and eyes that are very dark blue. My figure is full, my stomach is rounder than I'd like it to be, I'll never wear a size zero, but it's a passable body, by today's standards. However, I grew up in a family where perfection was the norm.h

My father is the CEO of an extremely well known marketing company. Let's just say his annual earnings could feed a small third world country. He is handsome in that severe and serious way. Even at age fifty four, his dark hair is only starting to silver at the temples, and his body is toned and muscular. He plays golf and tennis, wears Brooks Brothers underwear. I don't think any self respecting man should wear ironed boxers that cost more than a month's rent, but there you go. Anyway, my mother is one of those pastel blonds that usually marry men like my father. I'm not being disrespectful to my mother, she's a dear and I love her, but she is. Her eyes are a rare violet blue color and she has the ivory fair complexion most women long for. Slender and soft spoken, my mother usually dresses in powder greens and muted blues. The heaviest reading she does is Vogue and her favorite sport is shopping. I doubt she ever cooked a meal in her life. My one other sibling is Jane. She is my older sister by four and the ideal daughter. With golden hair cut stylishly in a long bob, Jane resembles my mother physically and has the mental capabilities of my father. She always got straight A's in school, dated future presidents of shipbuilding companies or heirs of olive oil factories, and was the first of her class, swimming star, head cheerleader, and tennis player. At age twenty six, Jane is a brilliant attorney with a multi million dollar law practice called Vale & Worth's.

Anyway, I was the unwanted surprise daughter. Throughout high school, I cut classes to go drinking or smoke a few ciggies with my few friends. I read voraciously but had a smart mouth. Sure, I cleaned up my act later on but not before I seriously offended a few of my father's associates with my vile behavior and temporarily dyed purple hair at numerous fancy shmancy gatherings.

But my parents had finally gone too far. I'd been willing to live quietly in a suite of the enormous Worth mansion and read my life away but my parents had forced me to meet my husband. Without my knowing that I even had a pending marriage. Obviously, this came as a shock to me.

As it happened a few weeks ago, I can still remember exactly what happened. I had been innocently reading a romance novel- Katie Macalister is the best- when the heavy oak door to my room swung open.
My father and mother walked in, wearing odd expressions. Mother had been dressed in a white crepe blouse with small silver buttons, a pale gray wraparound skirt threaded with silver and white silk, and silver lame pumps. Her spun gold hair was knotted in a loose chignon and she had a nervous smile on her lovely oval face, barely touched by time. Even Father looked pleased. (No need to describe his outfit, Father was born in an Armani suit.)

"What ever happened to knocking?" I quipped, putting down my book, and looking at Father expectantly.

Father ignored my question completely. "We have finally figured out what to do with you."

"Gee, thanks. I feel loved."

Softly, Mother said, "Lily dear, we only want what's best for you. And you have to admit, you do seem to need guidance."

"You're right, Laura. Lily, you have no prospects of ever finding yourself a job. You're plain useless. So I have decided to marry you off to the highest bidder," Father said curtly. "That would be Nicholas Schuyler. Personally, I like him. He's a dependable and charming fellow. You will marry him, if only to please me for one time in your life."

Well, that hurt. I put on a sardonic smile to hide my pain, and only said in an even tone, "We'll see."

The minute they left, I started to pack my bags. They weren't going to get their way this time.