Free Coulson's Wife (The Coulson Series) by Anna J. McIntyre

told you I’ll buy her something
nice.”
    “Randall, I just don’t
understand you sometimes.”
    “So tell me William,
what do you have planned for my lovely bride to make up for my birthday
oversight?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I know you William.
You’ve always been compelled to repair hurt feelings. You have something
special planned, admit it.”
    “Well,” William
grumbled, “I’m taking her out to dinner after the matinee on Saturday.”
    Randall gave a hearty
laugh. “I knew it!”
    “Oh, shut up.”
    “It’s one of the things
I appreciate about you. Dependable, kindhearted William. That’s why we make a
great team. I can be the cold hearted bastard I’ve always been, and you can
soothe the hurt feelings.”
    “I hate it when you
talk about yourself that way.”
    “You know it’s true.
You’re a better person than me, William. You always have been. I’ve accepted
that fact. I rely on it. I can come here and do what needs to be done, and have
every confidence you’re taking care of things there — at the office and with my wife. Of course, it would
be a hell of a lot easier if you would simply get married and then our wives
could help look after each other and you could come with me to Chicago.”
    “And who would keep an
eye on the business here?”
    “You have a point. I
suppose I won’t badger you to find a wife. Not yet.”
    “I still think you
should call her.”
    “Why, has she said
anything to you? Does she want me to call her?”
    “Not exactly. Actually,
she seems to accept the fact you won’t call. It’s as if she expects it.”
    “See, there you have
it. No reason to call.”
    “Randall, I want this
marriage to work for you. Mary Ellen is a lovely young woman.”
    “I thought you said she
was just a girl.”
    “I suppose she’s not as
young as I initially imagined. But don’t you want a marriage where your wife is
…is more than just a woman to bear your children?”
    “Let’s be blunt, William.
For me, a wife serves just one purpose—to give me sons. To carry on my name.
What’s the point of living if there isn’t a part of me to carry on my legacy
when I’m gone?”
    “If that’s all a wife
is to you, you should have just adopted boys.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I
want sons that are a part of me, not some orphaned brats.”
    “So she is nothing to
you but a brood mare?”
    “Don’t be crude William,
it isn’t like you. However, I suppose you’re right, in that a wife has other
purposes besides giving her husband sons. Society expects a successful man to
have a beautiful woman on his arm, and Mary Ellen is quite lovely. Having her
as a wife also means I no longer must endure the tedious company of young
socialites foisted on me by their parents.”
     “Our business consumes
you Randall. When escorting lovely young ladies becomes a chore, perhaps it’s
time to step back and reevaluate your life.”
    “But I’m a married man
now, and I don’t imagine you’re suggesting I continue escorting young ladies
when I’ve a wife at home?” Randall laughed.
    “Of course not. But
marriage should not be an excuse to ignore the woman you’ve married.”
    “Enough, you’re getting
as tedious as those simple minded little socialites.”
    “Then let me ask you
one question, and I’ll let it drop — for
now.”
    “Ask.”
    “What happens if the
baby is a girl?” There was no immediate response.
    Finally, Randall
answered the question. “Then I shall get my wife with child again, which is
what I intend to do if she has a boy. Therefore, nothing would really change.”
    “But how would you feel
about a daughter?”
    “A daughter? Honestly,
I’ve never given it much thought. I’m not really sure what purpose a daughter
serves, aside from forming alliances through marriage.”
    “Good lord man, this
isn’t the middle ages where you sell your daughter off for some political
alliance or a herd of goats.”
    “Interesting. The price
for my wife was