Rahel (rahel_) wrote in neogenesisrpg, @ 2009-03-26 19:41:00 |
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Entry tags: | katharine renshaw, rahel verma |
Who: Katharine Renshaw and Rahel Verma
What: Discussing marriage by proxy.
When: Thursday, lunch.
Where: Coffee shop.
Rating: G
Status: Complete
Kathy was sitting in a small restaurant, drumming her fingers lightly on the table in front of her. It was strange to think that she was waiting to meet her son's future wife... And she'd be meeting her before he did. She sighed and shifted a bit, frowning. This was not what she'd wanted for him at all. She'd never really expected... It had always been a looming possibility, but it couldn't possibly happen to them, right? Wrong. She wondered who this woman was. How old was she? Was she just a girl, like him, or was she a fully established adult, with a career and a life? It wasn't fair to either of them.
Rahel turned her cellphone off as she entered the restaurant, bag slung over her shoulder and hair unbound. She wasn't looking to make an impression but to appear exactly as she was. Alexander's mother couldn't possibly be any worse than her previous mother in law.
The restaurant was mostly empty - luckily - and she spotted the only other single woman on the premises with ease. She was much younger than expected. Not a good start. Making her way to the table, Rahel cleared her throat. "Hi, I'm supposed to be meeting a Katharine Renshaw, you wouldn't happen to be her... would you?"
Oh, lord. Katharine nodded, trying to keep her expression neutral but failing miserably. "Um, hello. Yes." She stood up and offered her hand to the other woman. No. No, there was no way this woman was marrying her little boy. How old was she?! She was feeling sick to her stomach, now. What a terrible mess they were all in.
"Ah." Rahel shook her hand weakly. "I think I need to sit down. You're not quite the person I was expecting... and I imagine neither am I." This was going to be more than interesting. It was shaping up to be the highlight of her stay in Seattle so far. So to speak.
Kathy say down again and nodded slowly. "Yes, I... Yes." She sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry that we had to meet on these terms, I just..." She frowned. "I'm not comfortable with this. My son is seventeen. He's not even done with high school yet. So you can see why." This was quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened. If she were Alex's age, or just a little older, that was something she could tolerate. But this? "I'm sure you weren't exactly expecting a high schooler for a husband, either."
"I'm thirty-five. I could be his mother." Literally, and wasn't that a frightening thought? Rahel leaned back in the chair and unbuttoned her coat. She felt like she needed a stiff drink but she didn't want to put the other woman off. Instead, she settled on a coffee when the waitress came by their table.
Kathy nearly choked. "Uhm, yes. I-I'm thirty-three. So, you're right, you could be." Oh, lord. How could this happen? There was something so wrong with it. Why would they pair a grown woman with a young boy like that? She took a breath and let it out slowly, trying to steady herself. There had to be something they could do.
(6:45:30 PM) kimchi rookie: "Wonderful," Rahel replied humorlessly. There wasn't anything to celebrate or be happy about. This was a terrible turn of events. "I should try to contact a lawyer about this, shouldn't I?"
"Yes, I think so," Kathy said, secretly relieved she didn't want to go through with the marriage. Excellent, that would make this all easier. "I'll do the same. I'll do what I can to help get this whole thing nullified."
Rahel nodded. Yes, that would be best. Nullify the marriage and get rid of the problem. "We might have to go through with it first. At least in the short term. I understand it's rather difficult to fight the law in one week." It was a lame attempt at humor, but at least there was one.
Kathy grinned at that. It was kind of lame, but she was so relieved she couldn't even begin to describe it. There was a hard road ahead of them, though. "Yes, that's fine. We'll do whatever it takes."
Rahel sat back, calm now that she knew which way this was headed and took a sip of her coffee when it arrived. "How does Alexander feel about this?" It was a little strange to be discussing his future without him present.
"He seemed pretty upset," Kathy admitted, running her fingers through her hair. She sighed, then picked up her own glass of water and took a sip as well. "He's got plans... Well, to finish high school, first off, and then there's college. He's never even had a girlfriend before, so to be expected to be married and trying for a baby within a week? That's a little much for him."
No kidding. "Excuse me if this is too forward, but you must have been about his age when you had your son." Unless she'd adopted.
"Yes, that's right." She nodded. "I was sixteen... Which is another reason why I'm not comfortable with this. Alex is the best thing that's ever happened to me, but it was a very hard road that I'd chosen. It's not the same situation, but it's similar enough. He's not old enough for this kind of responsibility."
"Though the government seems to think so," Rahel countered, not sure she believed it herself. Not sure it mattered. "But you're right. The situation is not the same. The likelihood of your son getting pregnant is nil." And if she said it a little bitterly, she took it as her right. She was the one meant t bear children she didn't want... with a child.
"They seem to think a lot of things that aren't correct," Kathy said, closing her eyes and sighing. "Yes, that's true. It's not fair to you to have to deal with this, either. You're a grown woman with an established life. You shouldn't be expected to marry someone who's still running the mornings to catch the school bus."
Rahel nodded. What else could she do? Mrs Renshaw was understanding and kind and it was in Rahel's interest to keep the other woman on her side to minimize her effort. "I'm sure we'll find a way to fix this as quickly as possible," she agreed, smiling into her coffee.
Rahel seemed to be on the same page as her, and that was good. Kathy smiled in return, then took another sip of her water. "Hopefully we can get this handled as quickly as possible."