Maria's eyes expressed concern. She understood if you hear the Head King wanted to talk with you directly, it wasn't always a good thing. At times it meant she did something wrong that would require Cory to correct whatever you might have done.
Maria swallowed hard and looked at Jay the Primary her husband worked under and then JJ she knew was an interrogator. Then she looked at Cory again between them the Boss of them all. The pit of her stomach curled up into a knot. She couldn't think of anything she had done that would require Cory, Jay, and JJ to be here to have a word with her. Yeah sure, she's been ripping into John but she didn't take it overbroad with him, and if she did. John would be the one to correct her.
However, John was a wonderful husband that allowed her to express her emotions, she thought. It's not too often that Cory and the Primaries would get involved between a married couple, she understood. Unless something happened bad enough that it required them to intervene. So she was nervous but looked at her husband standing next to Jay from her right.
John's face was blank but his eyes were gentle indicating she didn't do anything wrong. If she did John's eyes would be vivid. Maria relaxed and noticed Cory shared the same unreadable yet gentle expression.
Maria calmed her wary nerve and asked looking at Cory. "What did you need to speak with me about?"
I understood Maria was slightly fearful of me being here. "Let's have a seat at the bar." I gently said wanting to relax her.
Maria and John sat beside each other from behind Jake's room. I sat between Jay on my left and JJ on my right with the couch and tv behind us.
"Maria, I need a favor to ask of you that involves Sally." I first began.
Maria raised her curious eyebrows and asked. "Ok, what do you need?"
"As you know, Sally is having a lot of struggles with adjusting. I'm sure John informed you about her run-in with the scavengers."
Maria started expressing her concern and care. "Yes, John inform me all that had happened. I was heartbroken for her. But I was happy she was found in time and brought back safely."
"Indeed, I was too," I said sharing the same relief. "Anyways, after that incident it had me thinking about how to get Sally to cooperate with this wedding. I can't keep risking her getting these ideas to wanna run away. You understand Maria there is a lot worst out there compared to running into scavengers. You understand if our enemies get ahold of Sally it will be far worst."
"Yes, I understand," said Maria and then asked. "Do you feel she might still try to run away?"
"She claimed to have learned her lesson and said she won't do it again. But my concern is she could try again when getting things moving along with this Royal wedding. That's where you could be helpful for me and her." I continued.
"What can I do that you feel will help her with this adjustment and get her through this Royal wedding?" Maria asked.
"I want you to continue growing your friendship with her," I answered. "She is comfortable with you the most. Therefore I need you to encourage her to go along with this and help her get through the wedding preparations."
After thinking, Maria asked most politely. "May I offer a suggestion without sounding nosey or disrespectful toward you?"
I gave a half-smile, I was curious where this is going. "Sure, what is that?"
"Why not postpone the wedding and let her bond with you first?" Asked Maria respectfully and sincerely.
I sigh but said appreciating that she was only thinking about Sally's well-being. "Unfortunately, that isn't going to be an option. If Sally would have behaved from the beginning then maybe I'd consider it. So since that is out of the question. I will need you to do these steps with her and grow your friendship. Help her to make other friends too. The more she starts connecting with the other ladies and the kids. The less likely she'll wanna leave."
Surely, yes, I was using Sally's kind heart against her by getting her attached to kids and women within the Kingdom. But Maria didn't see through my ploy to emotionally trap Sally here. At least that is the scheme, I had planned.
Maria gave a light smile and said respectfully. "I wish I could talk you out of the wedding so soon. However, if this is your wish, I will help move everything along and be supportive with Sally."
I was very pleased with Maria's respectful response. "Terrific!" I told her. "After I come back from speaking with Deacon. We are going shopping with my family for her to try on some wedding dresses. I've heard from my sisters, that Sally hardly looked for a wedding gown. She wasn't even able to try one on. Sally needs to start getting ideas on what kinda gown she'd like to wear on her wedding day and at her wedding shower. Now I am hoping with you helping her, it will be more successful. Hopefully, it will get drilled in her head this is happening and she needs to come to terms with it. I hope you can get her motivated. Otherwise, if she still refuses, I'd hate to take such a drastic measure that it will be forced. But if it comes down to it I will."
Maria was slightly worried she knew
Cory had a lot of patience but she understood his patience only went so far. She understood a Royal wedding should be something rememberable and cherished.
"I will do all that I can to help," replied Maria.
"Thank you," I said in gratitude. "I appreciate it greatly."