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I like him. He’s not a wimp.
“Can we continue this fascinating conversation inside?” my father suggests, a glimpse of his old self emerging.
“Yes, of course,” my mother says, and we all troop into the living room.
It’s not the end. That’s not mother’s style.
“Are you getting married then?” she asks when we all sit down. My mother is like a dog with a bone. She doesn’t let go until she’s satisfied.
“About to,” Judy says and claps her hands together. “That’s the main reason why Josh and I are in LA. I want my daughter to be my wedding planner.”
The news is a surprise to Marian. “Mother, I can’t plan your wedding,” she says.
“Why not? I’ll pay you well,” Judy says.
“It’s not about the money. My contacts are here in LA. I can’t plan a wedding in Arlen.”
“You plan weddings in Hawaii and other exotic locations,” Judy points out.
My mother clears her throat. “Aren’t you a little too young for Judy?” She addresses the question to Josh.
“Mother,” I say.
“It’s fine,” Josh says in his calm way. “It’s true. I am a lot younger, but true love doesn’t discriminate.”
“Besides, my ex-husband, who is Marian’s dad, married a woman who is Marian’s age. I can’t wait to see how he reacts to my marriage.” Judy lets out a girlish gleeful laugh.
“Is it a competition then?” Marian says.
“Of course not,” Judy says. “It’s not like we’re going to try for a baby.”
“Your father has a baby with his new wife?” my mother says.
“Yes, she’s two years and a bit,” Judy says offhandedly.
Marian’s family dynamics make mine look tame by comparison. I look at Marian with new eyes and realize just how little of each other we know. I make a point to rectify that, and the only way to do it is to date her. Act as if we’ve only just met and get to know her.
“I’ll check on dinner,” my mother says weakly. She looks like she’s about to have a heart attack. “Declan, can you offer drinks to our guests,” she says and flees the room.
“You are certainly a big improvement on Leonard,” Judy says when my mother leaves the room.
“Mom,” Marian says in a warning tone, which immediately makes me curious.
“What? It’s true.” She turns to Josh. “You’ve seen Leonard about town. What do you think?”
Josh nods. “You’re right.”
“Who is Leonard?” I ask when I get a chance to put a word in.
Judy and Marian look at each other.
“You haven’t told him?” Judy says, looking aghast.
“No, there was no opportunity to,” Marian says and then turns to me. “Leonard is my ex-husband.”
I stare at Marian incredulously. I try to picture her married and fail. A burning sensation comes over my chest and a lump forms in my throat. I swallow it down. “You were married before me?”
Marian blinks rapidly. “I was.”
My mother walks back in. She immediately senses the tension in the room. “What?”
Marian turns to her. “I was just telling my husband that I was married before.”
My mother stares at Marian, shocked. “You’re a divorcee?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Judy says.
“It shows your track record for marriage is not good. Where does that leave my son?”
Chapter 13
Marian
What a terrible, drama-filled circus of a weekend. I wave enthusiastically as my mom and Josh drive away. Having spent a day and a half with him, I can see why he appeals to her, despite the age difference.
Still, I wish their visit had not coincided with my introduction to my in-laws. I have absolutely no doubt that Declan’s mom will never like me. She’s a snob and today’s lunch guests went against all her values.
First of all, Declan and I got married in Vegas after a drunken night of merriment. Yes, the whole story came out during lunch. My mom has no filter on her mouth, and I rarely lie to her.
On the way back from Santa Monica, I tried to get her to settle for a small wedding at the courthouse. She was having none of it. She wanted a wedding to rival the one my father and Terri had four years ago.
I walk back into the house, grateful for a moment of solitude. I do what I always do when I’m alone at home. I grab my laptop, get comfortable on the couch, and catch up with industry news.
What I should be doing is researching vendors and possible locations in Arlen, but I’m too emotionally wrung out to think about the headache that will be Mom’s wedding.
I love catching up on industry news, except that today, I can’t get into it. My mind keeps wandering to Declan. Is he rethinking our marriage after all the bombs I’ve dropped on him today? He’s probably wondering what he has gotten himself into.
The thought of losing him makes my chest contract. I tell myself it’s because of my baby. I can’t have him renege on our deal before I get pregnant. All this will have been for nothing.
