The Job Offer - By Eleanor Webb Page 0,35

need to explain the situation before his mother began making wedding plans for them too, Anne thought.

Their chance to explain arrived a little before breakfast wound down when the Rivertons entered the dining room and stopped at their table to greet them. Ben's parents talked for a few minutes with Chelsea's parents after they exchanged a few words with Lily and Tom. Chelsea, in contrast, did not talk and stood stiffly by shooting daggers at Anne with her eyes. Seeing this, Ben made a point of whispering a joke in Anne's her ear so that she laughed warmly at him. They looked every bit the loving couple they pretended to be. Finally, the Rivertons moved on to their own table across the room.

"I like Marge and Ted, but that daughter of theirs is something else," Troy Carlson said once the other family was out of earshot. "I thought you weren't inviting Chelsea to the wedding, Lily."

"I didn't," Lily stated angrily. "She is crashing the wedding. Can you believe it? If her parents weren't such good friends of yours, I would have told her off for coming. She probably heard that Ben and Trish broke up and decided to come and try to rope Ben. Sorry, Ben."

"It's not your fault, Lil. But as long as you are all here, Anne and I have some news. Last night we ran into Chelsea in the lounge, and I explained the problems I had with her to Anne. So, Anne has agreed to run interference to keep Chelsea at bay."

"You told Anne about the restraining order?" Liz asked.

"I didn't take one out against her, remember."

"She stalked you?" Anne looked at Ben surprised that it was that bad.

"For a time she did. But that part stopped after her parents said something to her. Ever since then, she just makes a point of coming on to me only if we see each other at some event. I try to avoid her, the best I can. It's gotten better over the years, although I half expected her to jump you last night."

"What is this interference you are talking about?" Liz asked the question but everyone leaned in to hear the answer.

"So that she doesn't spoil the wedding, we, Anne and I, are pretending to be in a relationship, engaged, actually. I hope that she will get the message and leave before Saturday," Ben told them all. Everyone looked at Anne with inquiring faces.

"You agreed to this, Anne? Do your parents know?" Troy asked the questions with a speculative look on his face. The same look was mirrored by Liz and Lily.

"It was my idea, and I haven't had the chance to tell them, yet." Anne looked around but did not see either of her parents. "Ben and I will find them after breakfast."

"Well, you two. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we will all act as if the relationship is real and that we are overjoyed by it," Liz told them. "Everyone agreed?"

"Agreed," they all said in unison.

"It's time to get ready to go," Liz said after a quick look at her watch. Everyone gathered their things and took one last sip of their coffees then stood up to leave. When the group reached the lobby, Liz pulled Ben and Anne aside while the others moved toward the elevator. "Ben, the tuxes will be coming up tomorrow, so make sure you try everything on when they get here. The tailor thought he would be here by noon, one o'clock. So make sure that you are here."

"I'll be here, Mom. Don't worry."

"Good," Liz said right before she wrapped Anne in a hug. "Welcome to the family, Anne."

"It's not real, Mom," Ben said drily as she continued to hold Anne's arms after the hug.

"I know, Sweetheart. Chelsea was looking over here. You two have fun today."

"Bye, Mom." Liz turned and walked over to the elevator just as the door was opening, leaving Anne and Ben staring at each other. "Well, Anne, let’s go find your parents."

They did not have to look too far. Celia, the assistant manager, told them that her parents were in the office. Anne took Ben's hand and led him to the office area in the employees-only area at the back of the inn. Since the day they bought the inn, Jane and Jim Petrovic shared the same office. They did, however, sit at different desks in the large room filled with the usual furniture and equipment found in offices. The