Victoria grabbed Molly's arm before the young woman had a chance to step outside of the building. Surprised at being kept back from where the other students were gathered, Molly asked, "What?"
"Go change your dress," Victoria said furtively.
"Why?" Molly asked.
Victoria glanced around to make sure that she wouldn't be overheard before she answered, "Mark O'Toole will see that dress and believe that you wore it just for him. You need to get in the ugliest outfit in your closet. I suggest some grungy old gym clothes."
"Don't be silly. We're going to a five star restaurant," Molly said.
"O'Tooles think the world revolves around them and their family. You need to get away before it is too late," Victoria said. She looked around nervously.
"It can't be that bad," Molly said.
"It is. Once one of them decides that he or she is going to marry someone, they are impossible to get rid of," Victoria said.
Molly rolled her eyes and said, "That isn't even grammatically correct. One of them decides doesn't agree with they are. It should be he or she is impossible to get rid of."
"No. I meant what I said. One of them decides to marry you and the whole family works to make it happen," Victoria said.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Molly said.
Victoria jumped a foot in the air when Mark said, "Hello, Victoria. Cousin Chuck sends his regards."
"Oh no!"
"He says that he'll be here for your graduation and hopes that you'll enjoy a little time in the kitchen with him," Mark said with a smile.
"I'll never go in a kitchen with him again."
"He mentioned something about a graduation present that involves sharing his leg of lamb recipe with you," Mark said.
"He didn't?" Victoria said licking her lips.
"Yes. That's one of his favorite dishes," Mark said.
"The leg of lamb, huh?" Victoria said biting her lower lip.
"That's right," Mark said.
"The one that tastes like a slice of heaven?" Victoria asked feeling tempted by the offer.
"That's the one," Mark said.
"He can write it down on a card and mail it to me," Victoria said with a hint of desperation in her voice.
Mark shook his head and said, "You know better than that."
"I love that lamb," Victoria said with a whimper.
"It is good," Mark said with a grin.
"He'll want me in the kitchen with him," Victoria said. Working in the kitchen with Chuck would involve food, wine, and conversation. It was a triple threat and she knew it.
"That's right," Mark said.
Knowing that she would hate herself, Victoria said, "Okay, but I'm not going to make any crepes with him."
"I heard about the little episode with the crepes," Mark said.
"I don't want to talk about it," Victoria said. Her face had turned bright red.
"Don't feel embarrassed. You aren't the first person to get discovered naked in a kitchen," Mark said patting her on the back. "It happens all of the time in my family."
"I don't want to talk about it," Victoria said through clenched teeth.
Mark turned to Molly and said, "I love that outfit. It really highlights your trim figure and impressive chest. I'm sure you were thinking of me when you put it on."
Molly turned to stare at Victoria. She was beginning to understand why the woman had acted in the manner she had. She said, "I would have worn gym clothes if I had been thinking of you."
"That's funny," Mark said with a chuckle. "I see our limousines have arrived to take us on our date. Let's go."
"Date?" Molly asked picking up the key word in his statement.
"This is our first date," Mark said.
Victoria saw the look of desperation on Molly's face and said, "You're dealing with an O'Toole."
"This is a class trip," Molly said.
"I arranged to have a few chaperones. I didn't want you to feel too pressured," Mark said. He took the two women by the elbows and directed them towards one of the limousines.
"You arranged this?" Molly asked too stunned to wonder why she was allowing herself to be lead by Mark.
Victoria said, "I tried to warn you."
"Hey, there's Cousin Tony. We'll ride with him," Mark said while steering them to a stretch limousine that was at the end of a procession of limousines.
"Cousin Mark!"
"Cousin Tony!"
"How's the school going?" Tony asked.
"They are teaching us how to burn food," Mark answered with a grin.
"That's good."
"How are things in the Senate?" Mark asked.
"Same old politics. We generate so much hot air that you'd think we were responsible for global warming," Tony answered. He looked over the two women with Mark appreciatively and asked, "Who are the young women with you?"
"This is Molly Andrews. She's going to be my wife," Mark answered.
"No I'm not," Molly said crossing her arms.
"Perky," Tony said appreciatively. "When she crosses her arms like that I can see why you like her."
"Arg!"
"Stunning, if you ask me," Mark said. He gestured to Victoria and said, "This is Victoria. Cousin Chuck is going to marry her."
"Ah, she must be the one involved in the crepe incident," Tony said.
"That's right," Mark said.
Exasperated, Victoria asked, "Does everyone know about that?"
"Yes. Of course, but we haven't heard all of the details," Mark answered.
"You never will!"
"Let's get in the car and head to the restaurant," Tony said while gesturing to the open door of the limousine.
"Good idea. Let's get this date on the road," Mark said.
"This isn't a date," Molly said feeling like no one was listening to her.
After everyone had settled into the car, Tony asked, "Did you hear that Cousin Suzy is getting married?"
"No. I heard that her love interest was putting up quite a fight. How did she get him?" Mark asked sitting up straighter.
"Cousin Lily served her up to her boyfriend," Tony answered with a grin.
"What?" Molly asked confused by the exchange.
"Main course or dessert?" Mark asked.
"Dessert," Tony answered.
"I'm sure that he appreciated that," Mark said.
Molly asked, "What are you talking about?"
Realizing that the exchange had been a little cryptic, Tony explained, "It is a standard tactic O'Toole women use to get their man. Cousin Suzy's boyfriend was invited to the private room of a restaurant for dinner. After a full meal, Suzy's mother wheeled her out, announced that dessert was served, and then left the room. The dessert was strategically placed on Suzy's naked body. The guy didn't stand a chance."
"I imagine," Victoria said.
"Her mother did that?" Molly asked. She couldn't imagine a mother doing something like that.
Victoria leaned over to Molly and said, "O'Tooles don't fight fair."
"All's fair in love and war," Mark said.
"Amen to that," Tony said with a grin. "It is a Donaldson family trait. You should have seen me going after my wife."
Mark said, "If I recall correctly, your thirtieth anniversary is coming up."
"That's right," Tony answered. "Linda has rented a dungeon up at the Hamptons for the week. We're recreating our honeymoon. I'm looking forward to it."
"Dungeon?" Molly asked thinking that she had misunderstood something.
"It is a strange family," Victoria said.
"She spent a thousand dollars on a new leather outfit. I can't wait to see her in it," Tony said.
"She is an impressive woman in leather," Mark said.
Tony looked puzzled for a second and then remembered where Mark has seen his wife in leather. He said, "I forgot that you catered the Leather and Lace party she held two years ago."
"Half of the Anders family was there. Who else would cater it except for O'Tooles?" Mark said. He shook his head thinking back to that party. He commented, "It still amazes me how the Republican members of the family go for leather and the Democrat members of the family go for lace."
"We adhere to the party line," Tony said with a wink. Turning to Molly, he said, "I happen to know that Mark is a Democrat."
"This is sick," Molly said. For a half a second she entertained the idea of switching over to leather underwear.
"What's with her?" Tony asked.
"It is our first date," Mark replied.
"Ah, that explains everything," Tony said.
"It is not a date," Molly said. She was tempted to cross her arms, but one glace at Mark made her realize that wouldn't be a good idea. She clenched her fists instead. She muttered, "All I need is ten minutes alone with him while I'm armed with a rolling pin; he'd be pie crust."
"She sounds like an O'Toole wife-to-be on a first date to me," Tony said.
"She does, doesn't she?" Mark said in agreement.
"It is not a date," Molly said.
Mark said, "Speaking of first dates, Chef Rupert is coming."
"Cousin Mary must be excited," Tony said.
"I'll say. She canceled half the reservations to clear out the restaurant for us," Mark said. That was a pretty significant action on her part.
"Maybe she'll serve herself for dessert," Tony said.
Victoria looked out the window trying to imagine what it would be like to be served as dessert. Idly, she said, "If I didn't hate Chuck so much, I'd do that for him. It sounds like fun."
"Molly and I would be happy to give you a hand," Mark said helpfully.
"No I wouldn't," Molly said staring at Victoria.
Realizing what she had been thinking of doing, Victoria shook herself and said, "I must be crazy. Why would I even think such a thing?"
"You love Chuck," Mark said.
"No I don't," Victoria said. There wasn't much force behind her words.
Tony looked out the window for a second and then asked, "You don't think we could fit another person in, do you?"
"I don't see why not," Mark said.
Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. After putting on some reading glasses, he scrolled through the list of names on the phone.
"Who are you calling?" Mark asked.
"There is a certain socialite who is interested in Cousin Ed. I thought I might invite her along since he is coming to the restaurant tonight," Tony said. He found the number and selected it.
"Is this the woman who has been chasing him all over the country?" Mark asked barely able to restrain his laughter. Members of the Donaldson family weren't the only ones in the world who knew how to pursue a love interest.
"Yes. She's a Republican and he's a Democrat," Tony said with an evil grin.
Mark laughed and then said, "Give her a call."
"That's mean," Victoria said.
"That's politics," Tony said punching the dial button.
"Are you really a US Senator?" Molly asked dumbfounded.
"One of the best in the country," Mark said.
"How do you know?" Victoria asked.
"He's an Anders," Mark answered as if that answer settled the matter. He watched while Tony waited for the call to go through.
"Hello, Bridget."
"I just wanted to let you know that Cousin Ed was going to the Dirty Skillet tonight."
"No, I didn't realize that your reservation was canceled."
"Well, I thought you might want to join me as my guest."
Tony laughed and then said, "Don't worry. My wife will be there."
"I happen to know that he's wild about lace. Just keep that in mind."
"Sure. I'll see you there."
"Bye," Tony said just before closing his cell phone. Looking over at Mark, he said, "She's coming."
"Great. Cousin Ed is long past the age of getting married," Mark said.
"Do you guys do anything except gossip about your family?" Victoria asked.
"Not really. We have an extensive family and it is hard keeping up with what all of them are doing," Tony said.
"We're here," Molly said ready to fly out the limousine. The front of the restaurant was not very pretentious unless one looked at the cars parked there.
"I heard it was in the middle of nowhere, but this is ridiculous," Victoria said. There wasn't another building within sight. The place was surrounded by swamp.
The group got out of the limousine and joined the rest of the class. Molly put as much distance between her and Mark as possible. She followed the line of people only to discover that Mark was holding the door open for everyone else. She growled, "I can't get rid of you."
"That's right," Mark said. "We'll be cooking in the kitchen together until death do we part."
"I can arrange the parting part," Molly said with a low growl.
Mark followed her into the building. Once inside, he announced, "Hey everyone. This is Molly and she's going to be my wife!"
"Hello Molly!" echoed through the room.
"I am not marrying him!" Molly shouted.
"This must be their first date."
"Look at the chest on her."
"I want to die," Molly said hanging her head.
Mark said, "I'm going in the kitchen to say hello to Cousin Mary and let her know that Chef Rupert is here."
"Lucky Chef Rupert," Molly said in a voice filled with sarcasm. She looked around and noticed that the terrified man was hiding behind the Senator.
"He is lucky," Mark said before heading off to the kitchen.
"Thank god he's gone," Molly said when he disappeared from the room.
A tall attractive man came over to where Molly was standing and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dr. Fred Sanders. It is so nice to meet you, Molly Andrews."
"Thank you," Molly said feeling relief at someone who talked normally.
"Let me say that it is a pleasure to meet a woman who does not need my services. Cousin Mark is a lucky young man," Fred said.
"What kind of services do you provide?" Molly asked.
"I'm a plastic surgeon," Fred answered. He turned and shouted, "Hey, Freda. Come here and check out Mark's bride-to-be."
"I'm not marrying him," Molly said. She wondered if she could get a sign to that effect.
A statuesque blond walked over. She looked over the younger woman with a critical eye. Holding Molly's chin, she said, "This is one woman who will never be a customer of ours. Look at that nose. It would cost most women five thousand dollars to get a nose like that."
"Nice bone structure," Fred said.
"You're talking about me like I'm not here," Molly said feeling like she was some kind of rare specimen under a microscope.
"Hush," Freda said. "I'd bet money her breasts are totally natural. They look like a C cup."
"I agree. She's definitely a C cup. Her chest looks a little larger than that because of her small frame," Fred said.
"Millions of women would be envious of her build. Tall, busty, slim frame, and good curves," Freda said.
"I wish we had a picture of her mother to see how she'll age," Fred said.
"You wouldn't happen to have a picture of your mother, would you?" Freda asked.
"No," Molly said despite the fact that there was one in her purse.
"Pity," Freda said. "What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a Chef," Molly answered.
"That was a stupid question on my part. Cousin Mark would only be interested in a Chef," Freda said.
Fred said, "Diet could be a problem."
"That's an obvious occupational hazard."
Fred said, "Hmm, we ought to introduce her to Cousin Georgette."
"I agree with you. A few afternoons with Cousin Georgette will keep her from getting fat. There isn't a better nutritionist in the country," Freda said. She patted Molly on the stomach and said, "You've got a nice tight tummy. Do you work out?"
Molly looked around wildly trying to find a way to escape the couple. She pointed over at Victoria and said, "That's Cousin Chuck's bride-to-be, Victoria."
Freda and Fred both looked in the direction that Molly had pointed. Fred asked, "Is she the one who had the little incident with crepes?"
"That's the one," Molly said inching away.