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I leave half an hour before lunch is scheduled. It’s best to go early and give my parents a chance to make their comments about my surprise marriage.
A good idea because as soon as my mother opens the front door, she goes straight into it.
“I don’t understand you, Declan,” she says as she leads the way to the living room. “I would expect something like this from Ace, not you.”
There it was again, the reference to me as a better child than my brother Ace. That is one of the things that has brought a wedge between us. Before Ace went to Afghanistan, I would shrug off the favoritism game by telling myself that it was none of my business. But after the threat of losing my brother in the war, I changed my stance. It might not be up to me how my parents treat Ace, but I can remove myself from those games, which is what I’ve done.
My father looks up from the newspaper he’s reading when we enter the living room.
“Father,” I say by way of greeting.
“Son,” he says and begins to stand.
“Don’t get up,” I say and cross the room to shake his hand.
He had a mild stroke a year ago, and though the effects were minimal, it slowed him down somewhat. Made him quieter. These days, he lets my mother make all the major decisions and speak for both of them. His handshake is not as firm as it used to be.
“I was telling Declan how disappointed we are in him,” Mother says as she perches on the edge of the seat. “If you needed money, you should have told us. We’d have helped.”
I’ve never been one to go to my parents for money, and neither has Ace. We’ve always worked hard for our money.
“Who said I married Marian for money?” I ask.
“Why else would you rush into marriage?” she says. “The trust fund is the only reason.”
“Marian and I are in this marriage for as long as we can make it work,” I choose my words carefully.
“I don’t like it,” she says.
“Reserve your judgment until you meet her, Mother. You’ll like Marian. She’s wonderful. She’s a wedding planner, and she runs her own business.”
The reason that my mother is upset is that she’s not used to me doing things without involving her. She’s upset that she never got a chance to chip in on my choice of bride. That is my fault entirely. I used to be a momma’s boy, and since I cut the apron strings, she doesn’t know what to do.
“I’m sure she’s a wonderful girl. Your brother chose well too,” my father says, speaking for the first time.
My mother lets out an unladylike snort but says nothing. She doesn’t like Lexi, which is my first clue that she won’t like Marian. Mother excuses herself to check on the lunch preparations progress with the chef.
At a few minutes to one o’clock, I hear the sound of an approaching car. I sprint out to welcome our guests.
My heart lifts at the sight of Marian as she brings the car to a halt in my parents’ circular drive. I hurry to her side and open the door for her. She slips into my arms, and we hug for a few seconds. The world fades, and it’s just Marian and me.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper into her ear. To my surprise, I mean it.
“I missed you, too.”
By the time we let go of each other, her passengers are already out of the car.
“Come and meet my mom,” Marian says, tugging my hand.
Her mom is very pretty, and she looks more like Marian’s older sister than her mother.
“It’s nice to meet you, Declan,” she says. “You can call me Judy.” She turns to the slender man with short-cropped hair and an intense stare next to her. “This is Josh, my fiancé.”
My jaw drops. The guy is not a day older than me. I shake his hand and turn a questioning glance at Marian. She shrugs.
“Come on in,” I say and shepherd the group toward the house.
My mother emerges, a bright smile on her face. “Our guests are already here,” she says.
We form a circle, and I introduce Marian first to my mother. My mother smiles cautiously but so far, so good.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Marian says and introduces her mother and Josh.
The friendliness that my mother was exhibiting seconds earlier disappears in a flash. She stares at Josh and Judy as if they are from space.
“I don’t understand,” Mother says and looks at my father for an explanation.
“What don’t you understand?” Marian’s mother asks and stands up straighter.
“Is your partner Marian’s father?” Mother says.
If the moment was not so weird, I’d have burst out laughing.
Josh takes it all in his stride, and he laughs. “I’m not, but from what I’ve heard about Marian, she’s a wonderful girl, and I’d be lucky to have her as my stepdaughter.”
