LITTLE RICH GIRL
Chapter Seven
It was once again morning, and
Padmé, the family, and Bail were out on their private balcony, having breakfast
and drinking coffee. She knew she would have to say something about why she
didn’t show up for dinner. Bail pushed away his eggs.
"I said I wanted four minute
eggs, not four and one minutes. And where in the gods’ name is our bread?"
Bail shouted, which scared Ryoo and Pooja. A servant came over and took the
plate.
"I’ll fix the eggs, and the
bread just came out, sir." The servant left. Padmé sighed, and everyone
else kept eating. Bail spoke again.
"What happened last
night?" he asked Padmé. Padmé shrugged and smiled a little. Her mother set
down her cup of coffee and listened.
"I was tired," she
said, taking a sip of juice. Bail nodded.
"Partying and dancing make
you tired." Bail nodded.
"I see you had that Delac
man following me around." She set down her cup with some force.
"Predictable." She leaned back in her chair. Her mother watched her.
"You will never behave like
that again, Padmé. Do you understand?" Bail asked. Padmé looked at him.
"I’m not a servant that you
can command," she said. Bail looked up. He thought she would just say yes
dear, or sir, and drop it. "I’m your fiancée." She was a bit shaky
saying that. Bail nodded, but had a look of anger.
"My fiancée. My fiancée!
Yes, you are!" He stood up and turned the little table over. Ryoo and
Pooja cried, and Sola’s eyes were huge. "And my wife by practice and soon
by law!" He went to Padmé, stood over her, put both hands on her arms, and
got in her face. "And you will honor me. You will honor me the way a wife
should honor her husband. Because I will not be made a fool again. Is there
anyway that I’m not clear?" She shook her head. He got up and left. Padmé
was shaking. Her mother stood up and left, while her father went over to her.
Padmé was in tears, and her father comforted her as best as he could while Tina
and Trudy came to pick up the mess. Padmé got out of her chair and tired to
help them.
"I’m…so…sorry, Tina and
Trudy." Padmé started to pick up the broken china.
"It’s okay," Tina said.
"We had an…an accident…oh,
let me help you." Padmé was crying.
"It’s all right,
Countess." Trudy stopped Padmé. Padmé sat down on the floor and cried. Her
sister felt bad for her. She was going through a lot. Ruwee came over, picked
Padmé up, and cradled her in his arms, carrying her off to her room.
*****
Tina was lacing Padmé’s corset as
Padmé stood there in silence. Tina knew Padmé was still upset.
"You did bring this on
yourself, you know," Tina said. Padmé let a tear fall. "First at
dinner last night. Then that horrible thing on the balcony." Tina pulled
tighter then threaded the string through again. Then she stopped.
"Although I’ll never forget how Bail looked when you didn’t show up for
dinner." They both laughed a little. There was a knock on the door. Jobal
came in, a look of rage on her face.
"Leave, Tina," she
said, and Tina left. Jobal started to lace Padmé’s corset. It was quiet for a
few moments. "You are not to see that Jedi again. Do you hear me?"
Padmé didn’t say anything. "Padmé?" she asked with some force.
"I forbid it."
"Oh, stop it, Mother. You’ll
give yourself a nosebleed." Padmé was trying to stand up for herself.
Jobal turned Padmé around with force.
"This is not a game. You
know the money is gone."
"Of course I know it’s gone.
You remind me every day."
"Your grandfather left us
with nothing but bad debts hidden by a good name. That name is the only card we
have to play," Jobal said. Padmé leaned back against the bedpost. "I
don’t understand you. It’s a fine match with Organa. It will ensure our
survival."
"How can you put this on my
shoulders?"
"Why are you being
selfish?"
"I’m being selfish? Let’s take
a look at how I’ve been selfish. I’m marrying a person I can’t even stand to be
in the same room with. And I’m doing it at the age of eighteen. Why am I doing
this? So you can live the life you want. I’m giving up all my happiness so you
can be happy." Padmé started to let the tears fall. "I’ve done
everything you’ve ever asked of me, and you still don’t appreciate it."
Padmé was crying now. "What more do you want from me?"
"Is that what you
want?" Jobal asked. "To see your father working as driver of some
sort? Your sister and her family living middle class? Me as a servant? Watch
all of our fine things be sold off? Have our memories scattered to the
wind?"
"What memories, Mother? I
have none."
"Through these hard times, I
have sheltered, clothed, and cared for you. All I ask in return is that you
help me here without complaint. Is that so much to ask?"
"Marrying a man you don’t
love is hard to do." Padmé walked to her bathroom, slammed the door, and
locked it. Jobal stood there and then walked away. Just as she walked out of
Padmé’s room, Ruwee came.
"She’s your daughter."
Jobal walked away. Ruwee went into Padmé’s room and heard sobbing coming from
the bathroom.
Padmé was looking in the mirror,
crying. Her face was wet and red. She heard a knock.
"Padmé? Padmé, my
sweet?" It was her father. She slowly opened the door. "What
happened?" Padmé wrapped her arms around her father.
"I can’t…I can’t do
this." She sniffed. "I feel nothing for him." Ruwee pulled Padmé
away so he could see her face. "But I have to. Don’t I? Because if I
don’t, I’ll shame the family." Padmé let more tears fall. Sola was at
Padmé’s door, listening. "You always told me to never dishonor our family.
And I won’t, even if it means I must be with a man I hate. It’s to honor our
family." She sniffed. Sola felt a tear fall. Her sister was ready to give
up everything so they could have everything.
"Padmé." Her father
cupped her cheeks. "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a
daughter." He kissed her forehead and held her close. Sola smiled and made
a promise to herself that she would give Padmé support through this.
*****
Padmé, Bail, and the whole family
were at a temple service. Everyone was singing a song when Bail noticed Anakin
coming from the corner of his eye. Mr. Delac was at the door and stopped Anakin
from coming in.
"Mister and Misses Amidala
and Mister Organa continue to thank you for helping," Delac said.
"Please. I just want to
speak to Padmé," Anakin was trying to say.
"They want to give you
this." Delac handed Anakin some credits.
"I don’t want your money. I
need to speak to Padmé."
"And to remind you that you
are here on a mission, which you will attend to." Delac split the credits
and handed them to two men. "Now, please show Knight Skywalker to his Jedi
friends."
"Yes, sir." The two men
showed Anakin out. Meanwhile, Jobal watched Anakin leave and smiled about it.
Padmé, however, had no idea what had just happened. She was still looking in
the songbook.
*****
The group was now walking around
the palace with the queen, speaking the mindless chatter Padmé couldn’t stand.
A man came up to the queen.
"Here, your highness.
Another message from the guilds." The man walked away and the queen looked
at it. Jobal had a slightly worried look on her face.
"Oh, don’t worry. That’s why
the Jedi are here." The queen smiled. The group moved on.
"Your highness," Padmé
said. Her royal blue dress fluttered in the soft breeze and her hair did as
well. "I did the sum in my head. And with the number of cruisers times the
number of beings you mentioned--forgive me, but I don’t think there’s enough
for everyone."
"About half. Padmé, you miss
nothing, do you?" the queen asked. Padmé smiled. "Don’t worry about
any of it. Come. Let’s go." The group went on, but Padmé felt someone pull
her back. She turned around, and it was Anakin. The two walked into a small
room.
"I can’t see you,
Anakin."
"Padmé, wait." He took
her hand, and she looked at him.
"Anakin, I’m engaged. I’m
marrying Bail. I love…I love Bail." Padmé was trying not to have a
breakdown.
"Padmé, you’re no picnic.
You’re a spoiled little brat." Padmé was about to leave. "Wait. I’m
not done. But you are the most beautiful, smart, talented, wonderful
girl…woman…I have every seen or known." Padmé was about to pull away.
"Let me get this out. I know how this galaxy works; I’ve been all over it.
I have nothing to offer you and I know that. But I’m too involved now." He
put his hand on her cheek. "You jump, I jump. Remember? I can’t turn away
without knowing you’ll all right."
"Well, I’m fine. I’ll be
fine. Really."
"Really? They’ve got you
trapped, Padmé. And you will die if you don’t break free. I’ve seen this
before. You may not die now, because you’re strong." He put both hands
around her face. "But that fire…the fire that I love about you…that fire
that burns in my soul for you…that fire will burn out." He looked into her
eyes and she into his. She’d never seen such blue eyes before.
"It’s not up to you to save
me, Anakin."
"Right. Only you can do
that."
"I’m going back. Leave me
alone." She left.