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you bastard.
I pocket my phone, stretching my legs out in front of me. The clear blue sky hangs above us as we sit on the patio of our suite. Insects hum around the arid canyons.
“Can we talk about something?” Molly says from the Adirondack chair beside me, fidgeting with the pages of her book.
“Of course.” My half empty coffee sits on the table beside today’s untouched crossword puzzle.
“Well, my parents arrive in a few days to let us know their decision.”
The last week and a half has flown by. We’re almost at the finish line.
I pivot toward her to give her my full attention.“Are you nervous?”
“Yes.”
Should I be?“Have you heard from them since your mom left?”
“The occasional text, but nothing about us,” she explains.
I don’t know her parents well enough to understand if that’s cause for concern. We’ve been doing great in the course, even if we’re stepping off of the agenda occasionally. Lolita certainly hasn’t indicated that’s an issue.
“Can you ask them how they’re feeling? It may ease your worry a bit,” I suggest. “Or we can ask Lolita for an honest update? Given the way she’s acted the past couple of days, I doubt she’s spying on us.”
Molly’s lips roll against each other. There’s a nervous crease in her brows.
I try to calm my own unsettled pulse. Her parents will definitely approve of our marriage.
“You’re right,” she answers, pulling me back to the present. “Maybe I’ll give my mom a call tomorrow. They’re just unpredictable sometimes.”
I wish I could do something to assure her, but my only confidence rests in the fact that we’re abiding by the terms of our arrangement.
It’s best to begin thinking about our future.
“Maybe we should talk about what would happen after they give us their approval,” I say. “I should’ve asked this before we left for Arizona, but would we have a wedding?” My question sparks more uneasiness.
“My mother would probably say it’s bad optics to have a wedding so soon after calling off the marriage of the century with Lance, so we may just elope.”
The thought saddens me. “If you could have a wedding, what would it be like?”
Her eyes widen with surprise, the way they do any time I ask her about her own preferences.
“I know it’s a bit silly, but I’ve always wanted to wear a colorful dress.” She smiles beneath the smattering of sun on the patio. “No white or beige, but something bright and beautiful. All my real friends would be there, and just my mom and dad, without any of their business connections. No fancy frills, no pressure to perform, no expectations. Just me and my husband.” She looks over at me.
Just me and her.
No.Stop it, man.
I try to shake the vivid picture of her fantasies from my own head. “Sounds really nice.”
“I’d want flowers of every color, and—” She blushes.
“What?” I readjust in my chair, picking up my coffee and taking another sip.
“It’s silly, but maybe a horse to ride off on with my new husband, just like in the books.”
I tilt my head toward her. “Nothing that you want for your special day is silly.”
She goes on telling me about her perfect wedding, as if she’s held it in her whole life and she’s finally been given permission to let her thoughts run free.
